Czech Republic–United States relations

Czech Republic–United States relations

Czech Republic
United States
Diplomatic Mission
Embassy of the Czech Republic in Washington, D.C. Embassy of the United States, Prague
Envoy
Ambassador Petr Gandalovič Ambassador Andrew Schapiro

Relations between the Czech Republic and the United States were officially established in 1993 following the collapse of the USSR and the subsequent breakup of Communist-aligned Czechoslovakia.

Since transitioning into a democracy in 1989, joining NATO in 1999,[1] and the European Union several years later, the Czech Republic has gradually become a close economic partner and formal military ally of the United States, drastically improving bilateral ties in the years since through increasingly extensive cooperation in areas ranging from counterterrorism to cultural exchanges.

According to the 2012 U.S. Global Leadership Report, 39% of Czechs approve of U.S. leadership, with 26% disapproving and 35% uncertain.[2]

History

Post–World War I

U.S. President Woodrow Wilson and the United States played a major role in the establishment of Czechoslovakia on October 28, 1918. President Wilson's 14 Points, including the right of ethnic groups to form their own states, were the basis for the union of the Czechs and Slovaks. Tomas Masaryk, the father of the state and its first President, visited the United States during World War I and worked with U.S. officials in developing the basis of the new country. Masaryk used the U.S. Constitution as a model for the first Czechoslovak constitution.

Post–World War II and communist Czechoslovakia

After World War II, the Czechoslovak government-in-exile returned. Normal relations continued until 1948, when the communists seized power and relations cooled rapidly. The Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia in August 1968 further complicated U.S.-Czechoslovak relations. The United States referred the matter to the UN Security Council as a violation of the UN Charter, but no action was taken against the Soviets.

Velvet Revolution

Since the Velvet Revolution of 1989, bilateral relations have improved immensely. Dissidents once sustained by U.S. encouragement and human rights policies reached high levels in the government. President Václav Havel, in his first official visit as head of Czechoslovakia, addressed the U.S. Congress and was interrupted 21 times by standing ovations. In 1990, on the first anniversary of the revolution, President George H. W. Bush, in front of an enthusiastic crowd on Prague's Wenceslas Square, pledged U.S. support in building a democratic Czechoslovakia. Toward this end, the U.S. Government has actively encouraged political and economic transformation.

The U.S. Government was originally opposed to the idea of Czechoslovakia forming two separate states, due to concerns that a split might aggravate existing regional political tensions. However, the U.S. recognized both the Czech Republic and Slovakia on January 1, 1993. Since then, U.S.–Czech relations have remained strong economically, politically, and culturally.

Mirek Topolánek, Barack Obama and Václav Klaus at a meeting

Current issues

Iraq War and Global War on Terror

In 2003, the Czech Government sent a small contingent of elite anti-chemical weapons warfare experts to Kuwait to support the then-impending U.S. led invasion of Iraq.[3] Despite governmental support for the war, an overwhelming majority of Czechs opposed the U.S. led invasion of Iraq throughout the lead up to the war and immediately following the invasion. A public opinion poll conducted in March 2003 found that over 70 percent of the population opposed the war even with a UN mandate while 83 percent of Czechs were against the war in Iraq without a mandate. Furthermore, the same poll found that 82 percent of Czechs believe that the U.S. bases its foreign policy "according to its own power and economic interests.[4]" Czech opposition to the war did not amount to the level of massive visible street demonstrations such as those seen in other cities around the world. On February 15, 2003, only 1,500 people attended a rally against the war in Wenceslas Square in Prague.[5]

Missile defense system

A missile defense system was planned to be installed at Brdy part of the Czech Republic.[6] It would have been an X band radar system that would work with a missile site in Redzikowo, Poland.[7]

In August 2008, the Czech Security Information Service (BIS) published the report for the year 2007, in which it says that Russian secret agents (spies) have been from the beginning highly influencing the public opinion against the building of U.S. radar in Czech republic.[8] In September 2008 Czech Military Counter-intelligence confirmed the report of BIS.[9] "BIS claims, that the Russian espionage is currently at high intensity and level." Russians secret agents mainly influence the people, that can have a great influence on public opinion. After Barack Obama was elected the President of the United States, there were speculations that he might stop the project. The final decision to scratch the plans was announced on 17 September 2009 by a phone call from Obama to Czech Prime Minister Jan Fischer.

In June 2011, Alexander Vondra, a Czech defense minister, told the U.S. that his country was withdrawing from the European missile defense system, stating: "We will seek other opportunities for the Czech Republic to participate in the Alliance system in the future; but this does not change anything about our support for NATO missile defense."[10]

In January 2014, the Czech government approved of the sale of 28 sub-sonic L-159 military planes in a deal worth up to $25.8 million to the United States.[11]

Czech Role as Protecting Power in Syria

As of February of 2012, due to the escalating Syrian civil war, the U.S. Embassy in Syria closed down. After the Polish embassy also closed, the Czech Republic in its stead assumed protecting power responsibility for the United States.[12]

All U.S. citizens needing help are directed to go to the Embassy of The Czech Republic in Damascus. The US State Department's travel tips include "The Government of the Czech Republic, acting through its Embassy in Damascus, serves as Protecting Power for U.S. interests in Syria. The range of consular services the Czech Republic provides to U.S. citizens is extremely limited, and those services may require significantly more processing time than at U.S. embassies or consulates outside of Syria."[13]

Notes

  1. ↑
  2. ↑ U.S. Global Leadership Project Report - 2012 Gallup
  3. ↑ "Prospect of Iraq war divides NATO". Radio Prague. 2003-02-11. Retrieved 2008-03-04.
  4. ↑ "New poll reinforces anti-war sentiment in the Czech Republic". Radio Prague. 2003-03-26. Retrieved 2008-03-04.
  5. ↑ "Low Turnout for Prague's Anti-war Protests". Radio Prague. 2003-02-17. Retrieved 2008-03-04.
  6. ↑ "U.S.-Czech Events Related to Missile Defense Cooperation". U.S. Embassy in Prague.
  7. ↑ "Brdy, Czech Republic". GlobalSecurity.org.
  8. ↑ http://zpravy.idnes.cz/rusti-agenti-chteji-v-cesku-vyvolat-odpor-k-radaru-varovala-bis-psn-/domaci.asp?c=A080925_093519_domaci_ipl
  9. ↑ http://zpravy.idnes.cz/vojenska-rozvedka-potvrdi-zpravu-bis-o-aktivitach-ruskych-sluzeb-10e-/domaci.asp?c=A080928_133002_domaci_ban
  10. ↑ Czech Republic Withdraws From U.S. Missile Shield Plan After Diminished Role Frustrations Huffington Post
  11. ↑ Czech government approves deal to deliver Czech-made military airplanes to US company StarTribune
  12. ↑ RTT News
  13. ↑ International Travel Information - Syria

See also

References

External links

Media related to Czech Republic – United States relations at Wikimedia Commons

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