Foreign Minister Lipavský: “I expect relations between Czechia and the USA will continue to be positive”
With the eyes of the world on the second presidential inauguration of Donald Trump, Czechia’s Foreign Minister, Jan Lipavský, spoke about what he expects for Czech-US relations over the next four years.
On January 20th, Donald Trump returns to the White House, taking over from the president who both followed and preceded him, Joe Biden. A change in president brings change and uncertainty not only for the USA, but also for the whole world, Czechia included. Speaking to Radiožurnál, Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský shared his expectations for Czech-US relations:
“I expect that these relations will continue to be very positive, that they will develop as well as we have been working on in recent years. It is not just about the big things, such as the F-35 fighter jets or significant Czech investments in Czech private entities in the United States. I think that today's very turbulent security situation shows that we are a good ally and that the United States hears this.”
Mr. Lipavský referred to the F-35 fighter jet deal, the biggest ever defence contract signed by Czechia, which was agreed back in 2023. The first of the twenty-four stealth fighters, produced by the American manufacturer Lockheed Martin, is expected to be ready to fly in 2029, when Czech pilots will head over to the USA for initial training. The planes will then land on Czech soil in 2031.
The foreign minister will soon cross the Atlantic himself, and will be attending and presenting at meetings there in person:
“I will be speaking at one of the conferences there, and we will see what other meetings can be arranged around those negotiations. Considering that the new administration will actually take office next week, we will see how successful we are in arranging those individual meetings at the highest level, but the opportunity will certainly arise and we will try.”
Closer to home, there is change too within the American diplomatic mission to Czechia, as Bijan Sabet steps down from the position of ambassador after two years. For political appointees, as opposed to career diplomats, it is customary for ambassadors like Mr. Sabet to offer their resignation before the inauguration of a new president. Two years were clearly enough time for the ambassador to form a strong emotional connection to Czechia, which in an interview with ČT24 he referred to as a “second home”.
