FOREIGN
RELATIONS
From 1948
until 1989, the foreign policy of Czechoslovakia followed that
of the Soviet Union. Since independence, the Czechs have made
integration into Western institutions their chief foreign policy
objective.
The Czech Republic became a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, along with Poland and Hungary, on March 12, 1999. The Czech Republic became a full member of the European Union on May 1, 2004. Both events are milestones in the country's foreign policy and security orientation. The Czech Republic is scheduled to host the rotating EU Presidency during the first half of 2009.
The Czech Republic is a member of the United Nations and participates in its specialized agencies. It is a member of the World Trade Organization. It maintains resident embassies in 93 countries. Furthermore, 82 countries have permanent representation in Prague.
U.S.-CZECH
RELATIONS
Millions of Americans have their roots in Bohemia and Moravia, and a large community in the United States has strong cultural and familial ties with the Czech Republic. President Woodrow Wilson and the United States played a major role in the establishment of the original Czechoslovak state 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.
After World War II, and the return of the Czechoslovak Government in exile, normal relations continued until 1948, when the communists seized power. 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.
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 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.
Relations
between the U.S. and the Czech Republic are excellent and reflect
the common approach both have to the many challenges facing the
world at present. The U.S. looks to the Czech Republic as a partner
in issues ranging from Afghanistan to the Balkans, and seeks opportunities
to continue to deepen this relationship.
NATIONAL SECURITY
The Czech Republic continues to make significant contributions to international
allied coalitions in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Kosovo. In early 2008, the Czech
Republic established a 200-person Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in Logar
Province, Afghanistan. In addition, an Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team
(OMLT) was deployed to work alongside the Afghanistan National Air Corps. The
deployment of this Czech OMLT complements the donation of 12 excess fully
overhauled Czech military helicopters to Afghanistan. This increased commitment
of support deployments to Afghanistan has not diminished the Czech Republic's
continued commitment to support other coalition efforts, including providing a
maneuver battalion to Kosovo in support of the Kosovo Force (KFOR) on a
continual rotational basis.
A major overhaul of the Czechoslovak defense forces began in 1990 and continues
in the Czech Republic. Czech forces have been successfully downsized from
200,000 to approximately 30,000, and at the same time reoriented into a more
mobile, deployable force. The Czechs have made good progress in reforming the
military personnel structure, and a strong commitment to English-language
training is paying off. Compulsory military service ended in December 2004. The
Czech Government currently spends slightly less than 1.4% of GDP on defense.
The Czech Republic has good relations with all of its neighbors, and none of its borders are in question. The Czech Republic is a member of the EU, UN, and Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and will lead a European Union Battle Group (EUBG) in the second half of 2009.
Principal U.S. Embassy Officials
Ambassador--vacant
Charge d’Affaires ad interim--Mary Thompson-Jones
Acting Deputy Chief of Mission--John Law
Political-Economic Officer--Charles Blaha
Commercial Officer--Greg O'Connor
Consular Officer--Stuart Hatcher
Management Officer--Ben Dille
Regional Security Officer--Richard Wade
Public Affairs Officer--John Vance
The U.S. Embassy in Prague is located at Trziste 15, 11801 Prague 1, Czech Republic; tel: 420-257-022-000; emergency after hours 420-257022-352.
