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Czech-Slovak relations

Relations between the Czech Republic and Slovakia since the peaceful dissolution of Czechoslovakia in 1992 have been consistently good, close and characterized by mutual trust. The governments of the two neighboring countries supported each other and cooperated on defense. Their respective languages are understood in both countries, and tens of thousands of young Slovaks study at Czech universities, which have a reputation for offering higher-quality education. The first foreign trip for a newly elected Czech or Slovak president has always been to the other country, and joint cabinet meetings are held at least once a year. And in surveys, the citizens of each country consistently rank the other as their favorite country. Or at least they used to.

Czechia and Slovakia were united as a single country called Czechoslovakia from 1918 to 1992. The country was formed after World War I from territories of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire. Before 1918, the Czech lands were known as the Kingdom of Bohemia and Moravia (parts of the Czech crown lands), while Slovakia was part of the Kingdom of Hungary - all within the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Unlike the Czech lands (which had distinct names like Bohemia and Moravia), Slovakia didn't have a separate administrative identity for most of its history within Hungary.

Since Robert Fico became prime minister in Slovakia for the fourth time in October 2023, relations between these two next-door neighbors have deteriorated and chilled significantly. Fico's nationalist, pro-Russian government, which models itself on that of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, has repeatedly clashed with the pro-Ukrainian Czech government of Petr Fiala. So much so that Prague actually canceled the traditional meeting of both governments in March 2024. The message from the Czech capital was that the "exceptional relationship" was terminated indefinitely. "We do not consider it appropriate to conduct governmental meetings with the government of the Slovak Republic in the coming weeks or months," Fiala told journalists at the time. "There is no hiding that there are considerable differences of opinion on several important foreign policy issues."

Fico, who had ordered a halt to military aid for Ukraine from the Slovak government and reestablished relations with Moscow, responded by accusing Fiala's government of warmongering. "We note that the Czech government has decided to risk our relationship just because it is interested in supporting the war in Ukraine, while the Slovak government wants to speak openly about peace," Fico posted on social media.

Although cooperation on practical projects continued at a low level, the warmth and mutual understanding of the previous three decades has dissipated entirely, particularly as Slovakia's rapprochement with Russia continues. The culmination of this rapprochement was Fico's participation in the May 9 Victory Day Parade in Moscow earlier this month. He was the only head of government in the European Union to attend.

Domestic developments in Slovakia, where the government has been taking action against independent public media and cultural institutions, making the fight against political corruption more difficult, are also not going down well in the Czech Republic.

The chill in relations was accelerated when the clearly pro-Western Slovak President Zuzana Caputova, who was hugely popular in the Czech Republic, was succeeded by Fico's minister and preferred presidential candidate Peter Pellegrini. "Pellegrini has an approval rating of 38% among Czech men and women, which is much lower than that of his predecessor, Caputova. She had an approval rating of 68% among Czechs in the final year of her presidency," said Petty.

According to the annual survey conducted by the Czech polling institute STEM, published in September 2025, Slovakia had slipped from its traditional top spot on the list of Czech citizens' favorite countries to 10th in the ranking. "The attitude of the Czech Republic towards other countries and foreign politicians remains largely stable in 2025. However, the current survey registers a clear drop for Slovakia and the United States," the institute noted on its website. "It is highly probable that the clear decline in positive attitudes after the downward trend of the last two years is linked to the current political situation in the country, where relations with the Czech Republic cooled after the Fico government came to power in fall 2023," STEM analyst Silvia Petty told the media.

Czech-Slovak relations on governmental level are at worst stage in decades, because Slovak cabinet hugs Russia. lovak Prime Minister Robert Fico publicly lies about Czechia, claiming thaz we “support war in Ukraine”, in a sense that we like it. On 07 March 2024 the Czech cabinet suspended intergovernmental consultations with Slovak cabinet, several Czech Ministers refusing to “sit in one room with somebody who just shook hands with Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov”. The next day, Czech Prime Minister Fiala welcomed leaders of Slovak opposition, publicly takes pictures with them at the official set of Czech PMs where state visits are received. In diplomatic terms, this is an equivalent of a middle finger towards the pro-Russian Slovak cabinet.

Czechoslovakia split into two separate countries, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, on January 1, 1993. The dissolution of Czechoslovakia in 1993 was marked by a commitment to peaceful coexistence and good neighborly relations, and this spirit continues to shape the interactions between the Czech Republic and Slovakia today. Czechs and Slovaks share similar ethnic and linguistic backgrounds, which fosters cultural understanding and facilitates communication. The languages are mutually intelligible to a large extent.

The main reasons for the split were complex and rooted in historical, political, and economic factors. Political Differences: Over time, political differences emerged between the Czechs, who were generally more economically prosperous, and the Slovaks, who felt marginalized and less influential in the federal government. Disagreements over the distribution of power and representation fueled tensions. The Czech lands, particularly Bohemia and Moravia, were more industrialized and economically developed compared to Slovakia. Some Slovaks believed that the federal system did not adequately address their economic needs and aspirations, and they sought more control over their economic policies.

The two regions had distinct national identities, histories, and cultural differences. The sense of a shared Czechoslovak identity began to erode, and both Czechs and Slovaks increasingly identified with their respective nationalities. The fall of communism in 1989, marked by the Velvet Revolution, brought about significant political changes in Czechoslovakia. The new political climate allowed for greater expression of national aspirations and contributed to the push for independence in Slovakia.

In 1992, negotiations between Czech and Slovak leaders led to an agreement to peacefully dissolve the federation. The separation was amicable, and both sides aimed to maintain good relations and ensure a smooth transition to independent states. On January 1, 1993, the split became official, and the Czech Republic and Slovakia emerged as two separate sovereign nations. The dissolution was peaceful, and both countries have since developed their own political, economic, and cultural identities.

The Czech Republic and Slovakia, since their peaceful separation in 1993, have maintained generally amicable and cooperative relations. While the two countries are independent and each pursues its own policies, there are several factors that contributed to a positive relationship between the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

The Czech Republic and Slovakia developed economic ties and engage in trade and business activities. Both countries have been members of the Visegrád Group, along with Hungary and Poland, fostering regional cooperation in Central Europe. Both the Czech Republic and Slovakia are members of the European Union and NATO, which provides a framework for further cooperation on political, economic, and security issues. the citizens of the Czech Republic and Slovakia enjoy visa-free travel between the two nations. This freedom of movement promotes people-to-people exchanges and tourism.

Cultural ties remain strong, and there are exchanges in the fields of education, arts, and sports. Events and programs that promote cultural understanding and collaboration contribute to the positive relations between the two countries.