GRADE

KEY BILATERAL RELATIONS
43
United States of America
Activity
C
Determination
C
Impact C–
Normative aspect B–
Final mark
Relations between the Czech Republic and the United States were particularly damaged
in 2015 by the contradictory positions taken by the government and the President, and
the increasingly vague foreign policy orientation of the Czech Republic. Due to a lack of
new areas for mutual relations, there was a certain exhaustion of bilateral cooperation,
although many projects continue to operate successlly.
C
Bilateral relations between the Czech Republic and the United States
continue along the trajectory set in recent years, with a growing divide between
the foreign policy actions of the government and the President. With a few minor
exceptions, the activi of the government can be considered constructive. Certain
steps by President Zeman, however, raised doubts in the United States about
the foreign policy orientation of the Czech Republic, which can be considered
a serious problem for the ture. There was a gradual exhaustion of bilateral
relations, as old matters were concluded or continued without change, and no
new areas of cooperation were established.
In 2015, Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka travelled to the United States
to take part in the securi summit of coalition partners in the fight against
ISIL. Increased interaction between the representatives of both countries
will undoubtedly benefit Czech-American relations. On the other hand, the
government has not overly distanced itself from the actions of the President,
which does little to dispel US concerns regarding the long-term direction of
Czech foreign policy.
President Miloš Zeman also travelled to the USA. During his March visit,
no senior American politicians met with the Czech President. On the other
hand, Zeman’s meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, who has been
involved in a long-running dispute with President Obama, could be perceived as
a not very diplomatic step on American soil. A negative light was also cast on the
Czech Republic by Zeman’s attendance of the Moscow military parade to mark
the 70th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, which was boycotted