President Petr Pavel spoke on 21 October 2026 in Prague at the opening of the Future Forces Forum, an international defence and security trade fair. He said that successful deterrence and defence would depend on how quickly states manage to adopt new technologies and innovations.
Pavel noted that more than 60 conflicts are taking place around the world and that Europe is facing a large-scale war in Ukraine. According to him, security goes beyond armed forces and requires the readiness and resilience of society as a whole. He also stressed close cooperation between governments and the defence industry and the importance of procedures for acquiring new equipment. In his view, the future will not depend solely on drones and missiles; what will matter most is the ability to make swift use of technological change.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and Trade Karel Havlíček (ANO) said at the opening that the defence industry is becoming one of the new pillars of the Czech economy. He said an environment must be created in which small and medium-sized enterprises, start-ups and research institutions can also develop.
The Future Forces Forum is a platform for defence and security technologies that brings together representatives of armed forces, security services, public administration and industry. The programme includes conferences, discussions and an exhibition of equipment.
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Scope of the 2026 Edition and Plzeň's Participation
According to Deník, the 2026 edition of the Future Forces Forum trade fair and professional forum, held at the PVA EXPO venue in Prague's Letňany district, was attended by more than 530 exhibitors and official delegations from over 70 countries. The programme included more than 45 expert panels and thematic conferences. Visitors were able to learn about trends in autonomous systems, artificial intelligence, unmanned aerial vehicles, robotics and cybersecurity.[2]
Plzeň also presented itself at the event as a city dedicated to security that supports technological innovation and connects the public sector, security services, research and private companies. Luděk Šantora, director of the Plzeň City Information Technology Administration, said: “The Future Forces Forum is held once every two years and is a very important opportunity to network, share experience and establish new contacts and cooperation with people in this sector.”[2]
Plzeň's Participation in Future Forces Forum 2026
The forum was also attended by a delegation from the city of Plzeň, which presented itself as a city dedicated to security and supporting technological innovation. Luděk Šantora, director of the Plzeň City Information Technology Administration, said the forum is held once every two years and is an opportunity to establish contacts and cooperation in the defence and security sector.[2]
Chronology
- — At the opening of the Future Forces Forum in Prague, President Petr Pavel said that successful defence will depend on the rapid adoption of new technologies and on the resolve of the population. ČTK / České noviny
Sources
- ČTK / České noviny — 21 October 2026
- Deník: Plzeňský kraj — 28 October 2026