Army of the Czech Republic in achieving interoperability with NATO

Abstract

The Army of the Czech Republic (ACR) was, until 1991, a part of a highly standardized combined armed forces of the former Warsaw Pact. NATO, at its Madrid Summit in July 1997, invited the Czech Republic to join the Alliance. The ACR is undergoing a fundamental transformation to become interoperable with NATO members' armed forces. This study focuses on the human factor in alliance interoperability in the belief that new ways of thinking are fundamental to the principles for interoperability among NATO allies. After presenting the development of interoperability in NATO and the standardization process in the former Czechoslovak Army, the thesis treats evaluation of achieving the interoperability between the ACR and NATO. A special attention is given to the Partnership for Peace program and to changes in that part of the Czech legislation, which is connected with defense issues. Finally, the study presents generalization of steps, which are decisive for achieving the interoperability with the Alliance and which could be utilized by other countries.