The transnationalisation of military leaders in Central and Eastern Europe and EURO-Atlantic integration

The professional transnationalisation of Central and Eastern European (CEE) militaries has been a pivotal factor in their integration into the Euro-Atlantic security community. This article examines the development and political significance of transnational experience among top military leaders, particularly chiefs of defence (CHODs), in the CEE region. Drawing on an original dataset, the study highlights the exceptional prevalence of international professional military education (IPME), multinational headquarters service, and operational deployments among CEE CHODs. It argues that this transnationalisation is not incidental, but the result of key factors: the legacy of Sovietisation, domestic and Western incentives for security integration, NATO's operational agenda, and the internalisation of transnational norms within military cultures. As a result, CEE military leaders have emerged not only as products of Western integration, but also as political actors representing Euro-Atlantic cohesion – publicly promoting defence readiness and challenging political complacency in response to renewed security threats to the alliance.