• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Czech Republic - US Relations

The United States and the Czech Republic enjoy a partnership that began over 80 years ago when Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk and Woodrow Wilson pledged together to be friends and allies in the cause of democracy. This Czech-American partnership is deeply rooted in the shared ideals of our two countries. Relations between the United States and the Czech Republic are excellent and reflect their common approach to the many challenges facing the world.

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. During World War II, American soldiers also fought for the liberation of Czech lands from Nazi occupation and reestablishment of the sovereignty and independence of Czechoslovakia. Many of them gave their life during the liberation of the Czechoslovakian territory in the spring of 1945.

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.

During the Cold War, the United States led the free world in its efforts to return freedom, independence and democracy to countries in Central and Eastern Europe, including Czechoslovakia. Tens of thousands of Czechs and Slovaks who left their communist country found a new home in the United States, from where they continued to struggle for the return of democracy to their homeland.

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

The U.S. Government was initially opposed to the idea of Czechoslovakia forming two separate states, due to concerns that a split might aggravate existing regional political tensions. The Czech and Slovak Federal Republic (CSFR) ceased to exist on December 31, 1992, an event commonly referred to as the ‘Velvet Divorce.’ The United States established diplomatic relations with the Czech Republic on January 1, 1993.

The United States formally recognized the Czech Republic on January 1, 1993. At the time, White House Press Secretary Marlin Fitzwater noted that “the United States looks forward to full and mutually productive relations with the new Czech state.”

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. looked to the Czech Republic as a partner in issues ranging from Afghanistan to the Balkans, and seeks opportunities to continue to deepen this relationship.

The United States and the Czech Republic have a bilateral investment treaty. Successive Czech governments have welcomed U.S. investment, and the United States has been one of the Czech Republic's top investors. Leading sectors for U.S. exports to and investment in the Czech Republic include automotive parts and equipment, education, energy, franchising, information technology, medical equipment, scientific equipment, and the agricultural sector.

In November 2008, the US Congress placed the Czech Republic on its list of countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program, which establishes a non visa regime between the US and the respective countries, and, thus, removed the last unnecessary barrier to Czech-US relations. The Visa Waiver Program allows nationals of participating countries to travel to the United States for certain business or tourism purposes for stays of 90 days or less without obtaining a visa.

The Congressional Czech Caucus, which was founded in both the House of Representatives and Senate of the US Congress in 2008, was valuably instrumental in promoting the inclusion of the Czech Republic in the non visa regime.

The bilateral relations are based on three main pillars: cooperation in the field of security and defense, economic cooperation, and shared values. US President Obama and Czech Prime Minister Necas met in the White House in October 2011 and confirmed the strong ties between the two countries. The leaders discussed areas such as defense cooperation, civil nuclear research or support for human rights around the world. The Congressional Czech Caucus was again established in the 113th Congress.