***Check against delivery*** 

Excellencies, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen. It is a great honour to have been invited to deliver the annual Lowy Lecture and I am really privileged to be among all those big names mentioned in the beginning of this evening.
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The world is increasingly becoming a more dangerous and unpredictable place. 
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This sentence has become a common opening line in many speeches these days. 
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Sadly, it is not just a rhetorical cliche, but a stark reflection of the complex challenges we face.
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We are living in an era where diverse crises overlap, conflicts intensify, and new threats emerge. 
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An era where old assumptions give way to new and uncomfortable realities, creating unprecedented levels of uncertainty. This complex situation demands more from us than mere acknowledgment. 
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It calls for urgent, coordinated action and a commitment to enhanced resilience across all domains. Recognising and understanding these challenges is the first necessary step. 
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Addressing them together is probably the greatest responsibility of our time.
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The world is witnessing a record number of armed conflicts, at varying levels of intensity. The highest number since World War Two. 
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Following the brutal terrorist attack of 7 October last year, violence in the Middle East continues to escalate, with a two-state solution seeming increasingly out of reach. 
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Diplomatic efforts have stalled so far, leaving the region in a precarious state as civilians continue to bear the brunt of the violence.Africa is grappling with numerous conflicts that have caused instability in many regions. 
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In the Sahel, insurgent groups and ethnic violence have destabilised several countries. 
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In Sudan, fighting between rival military factions has forced millions to flee, leading to one of the greatest humanitarian crises. In eastern DRC, armed groups continue to fight over resources, worsening regional instability.
Asia is also home to a number of ongoing ethnic and territorial disputes. 
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Myanmar remains embroiled in conflict following the military coup. 
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The humanitarian and human rights situation in Afghanistan is beyond dire, especially for women and girls.
 
Sadly, the list goes on.
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In Europe, war has made a devastating return. 
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The Russian aggression against Ukraine is no more cruel or senseless than any other conflict. 
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However, it does stand apart in certain ways.
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This war holds profound global implications, with the potential to reshape the international order that has governed the world since the end of World War Two. 
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A few days ago, we marked the sombre milestone of 1,000 days of this aggression. A thousand days of entire cities reduced to rubble, homes shattered, and lives forever altered.
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The humanitarian impact of this war is enormous. 
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Almost 4 million people remain internally displaced within Ukraine. 
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Over 6 million have sought refuge abroad, primarily in European countries. 
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This influx has presented significant challenges for us and other European countries, including the need for housing, healthcare, education and employment opportunities for those affected. 
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I feel proud about how my country has stood up to the challenge to date. 
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Czechia hosts the highest per capita ratio of Ukrainian refugees in the European Union. Ukrainians now constitute about 3.5 % of our entire population. 
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So far, we have been successful not only in welcoming but also in integrating Ukrainian refugees. 
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By streamlining legal processes, we have ensured rapid access to healthcare, education, and the labour market.
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As a result, 70% of economically active Ukrainians have successfully found employment across various sectors.
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I also want to use this opportunity to express my most sincere appreciation to Australia for your support for Ukraine. 
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Your contributions, including the provision of military equipment, humanitarian aid and financial assistance have been truly invaluable. 
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Nevertheless, this war is not about us. 
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Nor is it just about Ukraine’s borders, or Europe’s security. 
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It is about principles that affect us all: sovereignty, territorial integrity, freedom, and the right to determine our own future. While the Ukrainian people are paying the ultimate price for these values, the stakes extend far beyond them or us. 
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This war impacts EVERY ONE of us!
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The instability in Europe has clear implications for the Indo-Pacific.
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If violations of sovereignty and international norms in Europe face only limited consequences, actors such as China or North Korea can be further encouraged to adopt more assertive or aggressive policies. Let’s be sure that they are watching closely and learning fast.
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This would pose an even greater threat to regional and global stability.
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The Russian war of aggression has already intensified inflation worldwide, driven by spikes in energy and food prices. It has disrupted supply chains, already strained by the preceding covid pandemic. 
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The disruption of grain exports has worsened global food security for many countries in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.Yet, serious as they are, these effects are not the most consequential outcome of Russia’s war. 
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The most profound impact of the conflict in Ukraine is the strengthened cooperation among Russia, Iran, North Korea, and China.This represents a dramatic geopolitical shift in the global balance of power, with far-reaching implications.
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Russia has turned to Iran for drones and North Korea for artillery, ballistic missiles and – once unimaginable – for manpower to be deployed on European soil. 
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North Korean soldiers gaining military training and combat experience will become an even greater threat to the entire Korean Peninsula and the region.
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With Russia, faced with economic sanctions, China has become its major supplier of dual-use goods.
The autocratic regimes cooperate in cyberspace and share surveillance technologies.
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They support each other’s narratives, aiming to undermine public trust and democratic values globally.
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They back each other in international fora including the United Nations, advancing their own agendas and opposing initiatives condemning their rogue actions and human rights violations.
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This emerging bloc is not a formalised coalition. 
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Instead, it is closely-knit by opportunity, temporally shared goals and mutual interests. 
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Driven by the ambition to consolidate domestic power and undermine the rules-based international system. 
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This bloc has the potential and the ambition to reshape global politics, trade, and security, redirecting power, values, principles and influence away from democratic countries for years to come.
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These dynamic poses significant security risks to the whole democratic world and those countries striving for democracy. 
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It contributes to rising military tensions and a number cyberattacks in the Asia-Pacific while undermining the institutions that both Australia and Czechia depend on. 
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It seeks to exploit divisions within societies, further eroding democratic resilience and unity: a challenge that Czechia and other European countries have experienced firsthand.
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Autocratic states often engage in thorough disinformation campaigns to sway public opinion or even influence electoral outcomes. And some within the targeted countries contribute, whether knowingly or unknowingly.
The threat of autocracies is not only external. It also comes from within our societies.
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As the world becomes faster, more complex, and more daunting, people increasingly seek simple answers and straightforward solutions.As a result, populism-driven political forces are gaining momentum worldwide.
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To deliver on their promises — or simply to consolidate power — they do not hesitate to interfere with free media, civil society or independent judiciary.
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To quote the first Czech President Václav Havel: “The natural disadvantage of democracy is that it ties the hands of those who wish it well and opens up unlimited possibilities for those who do not take it seriously.”
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Does this mean that democracies are in decline and autocracies will eventually prevail, and all is lost? Certainly not! But we must respond and adapt to this new situation, and we must adapt fast.
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And if we respond together, in a well-coordinated way, we will be all the stronger for the task.
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Some positive changes are already happening: 
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The war in Ukraine has strengthened NATO’s partnerships, led to increased defence spending, and prompted countries like Finland and Sweden to join the Alliance. Something nobody would have thought just three years ago.
Cooperation between NATO and the Indo-Pacific Four countries, such as Australia, has become much stronger, with unprecedented levels of engagement at both ministerial and head of state/head of government levels.
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European countries have accelerated efforts to reduce dependency on Russian energy, leading to increased investment in renewables and nuclear power. They are also seeking alternative reliable suppliers, improving gas infrastructure, including the development of LNG terminals.
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The Russian aggression has reinforced unity, particularly within NATO and the EU. 
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It is not enough, though. The challenges are global, and our response must be global too. 
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And there is a glorious historical precedent:
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Together, we stood strong during World War I. Europe remains deeply grateful for the sacrifice of your soldiers at Gallipoli and the fields of Flanders and also later on in the same fields during World War II. And all these join experiences made a strong point in European history, weakening autocracies and shaping the path toward democracies.
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This kind of profound alliance and a sense of mutual solidarity is why I travelled all the way to Australia, and later I continue to New Zealand. 
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I am standing here in front of you to emphasise that in today’s world, distances no longer matter. 
Ever closer cooperation among democracies is essential for building and strengthening our resilience. 
We are fortunate to live in societies founded on rules, mutual respect, and tolerance. 
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It is our duty to preserve these values, as they are essential for the well-being of our citizens and the cohesion of our communities.Fostering critical thinking and promoting media literacy are crucial to strengthen our resilience and empower individuals against disinformation.
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By working together, we can pool resources, share expertise, and tackle challenges that no single nation can effectively address on its own. 
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As professor Joseph Nye once stated: “We are condemned to cooperate, because if we don't, we are really just condemned”.Ladies and gentlemen, I came to your beautiful country to identify opportunities and strengthen our cooperation in many areas including research, cybersecurity, energy or defence. 
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Czechia is a medium-sized country, but we are committed to being a reliable and trustworthy partner, backing words with concrete actions.I deeply care about peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific. Your security is closely linked to our security.
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To address these shared challenges, we must strengthen our bonds. 
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I am therefore hopeful that both the EU and Australia will return to the negotiating table to finalise the Free Trade Agreement and advance scientific cooperation under Horizon Europe.
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Diversifying our trade and intensifying our cooperation in research will make us less vulnerable and less dependent on unpredictable actors.
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The future is in our hands, and it is up to us to seize the opportunity to create a better world — not just for ourselves, but, most importantly, for future generations.
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Thank you for your attention.