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Past Event
Seminar

Central and Eastern Europe’s Critical Role for NATO with Jan Havranek, Former Deputy Defense Minister of the Czech Republic

RSVP Required Harvard Faculty, Fellows, Staff, and Students

Please join the Project on Europe and the Transatlantic Relationship for a discussion with Jan Havranek, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of the Czech Republic to the U.S. and former Deputy Defense Minister of the Czech Republic, on the crucial role that Central and Eastern Europe play in NATO’s long-term stability. With Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24th, the transatlantic alliance has solidified its position and strengthened its eastern border. Yet many questions remain in relation to the long-term sustainability of the alliance’s Russia resistance. Mr. Havranek will discuss NATO’s 2022 Strategic Concept as well as the Alliance’s most pressing regional issues as a response to Russia’s war against Ukraine. This conversation will be moderated by Ilya Timtchenko, Belfer Young Leader Student Fellow with the Future of Diplomacy Project and Intelligence Project (MPP 2023).

Date: Time: - Location: Littauer Building - Belfer Center Library, Room 369
Jan Havranek's office

Jan Hvranek

Jan Havránek is the Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Washington, DC.

Prior to his appointment, he served as the Deputy Minister of Defence responsible for defence policy and strategy, international cooperation, defence planning and crisis management (2020-2022).

He previously was the Policy Adviser at the Policy Planning Unit of the Office of the NATO Secretary General in Brussels (2017-2020); Head of Defense Section at the Czech Republic’s Permanent Representation to NATO in Brussels (2014-2017); Assistant First Deputy Minister of Defense (2013-2014); and foreign policy advisor to Minister of Defence (2010-2012).

Jan Havranek is a frequent speaker and commentator on international security, transatlantic relations, hybrid warfare, NATO, EU and other related subjects. In 2013, he was named to the Diplomatic Courier’s annual list of the “Top 99 Under 33 Foreign Policy Leaders.” His other engagements have included cooperation with GLOBSEC projects (2011-2013), fellowship at Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA, 2013-2014); and work for the Prague Security Studies Institute (PSSI, 2003-2006) and the Association for International Affairs in Prague (AMO, 2002-2007)

Jan holds a master’s degree in international security studies from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University (2009).