The Czech Republic is a Central European country, a member of the European Union, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the United Nations (and all of its main specialized agencies and boards). It entertains diplomatic relations with 191 countries of the world, around half of which maintain a resident embassy in the Czech capital city, Prague.
During the years 1948–1989, the foreign policy of Czechoslovakia had followed that of the Soviet Union. Since the revolution and the subsequent mutually-agreed peaceful dissolution of Czechoslovakia into the Czech Republic and Slovakia, the Czechs have made reintegration with Western institutions their chief foreign policy objective. This goal was rapidly met with great success, as the nation joined NATO in 1999 and the European Union in 2004, and held the Presidency of the European Union during the first half of 2009.
International disputes Liechtenstein Throughout the past decades, Liechtenstein continuously claimed restitution for , or an area roughly ten times the size of Liechtenstein, of land currently located in the Czech Republic. The land was partially confiscated from the Liechtenstein family in 1918 with the rest of the property being confiscated in 1945 after the expulsion of Germans and confiscation of German property. The Czech Republic insisted that it could not acknowledge or be responsible for claims going back to before February 1948, when the Communists had seized power.
As a result, Liechtenstein did not diplomatically recognize the existence of the Czech Republic as a new state (and, for that matter, also that of the Slovak Republic) until 2009.
In July 2009, the Prince of Liechtenstein announced he was resigning to the previous unsuccessful claims to property located in the Czech Republic, and on 13 July 2009, after politically recognizing one another, the Czech Republic and Liechtenstein formally established diplomatic relations.
Placement of US National Missile Defense base In February 2007, the US started formal negotiations with Czech Republic and Poland concerning construction of missile shield installations in those countries for a Ground-based Midcourse Defense System. Government of the Czech Republic agrees (while 67% Czechs disagree and only about 22% support it) to host a missile defense radar on its territory while a base of missile interceptors is supposed to be built in Poland. The objective is reportedly to protect another parts of US National Missile Defense from long-range missile strikes from Iran and North Korea, but Czech PM Mirek Topolánek said the main reason is to avoid Russian influence and strengthen ties to US.
The main government supporter Alexandr Vondra, Deputy Prime Minister for European affairs, used to be an ambassador to the USA. More problematic is that between 2004 and 2006 he was an executive director of a lobbying company Dutko Worldwide Prague. Dutko's and its strategic partner AMI Communications (PR company) customers are Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Nortrop Grumman, which are largest contractors for NMD development. AMI Communications also received (without a formal selection procedure) a government contract to persuade Czechs to support US radar base.
Diplomatic relations List of countries which the Czech Republic maintains diplomatic relations with: #CountryDate12345678910111213—1415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142434445464748495051525354555657585960616263646566676869707172737475767778798081828384858687888990919293949596979899100101102103104105106107108109110111112113114115116117118119120121122123124125126127128129130131132133134135—136—137138139140141142143144145146147148149150151152153154155156157158159160161162163164165166167168169170171172173174175176177178179180181182183184185186——187188189190191192
Bilateral relations Multilateral Organization Formal Relations BeganNotesSee Czech Republic in the European Union Czech Republic joined the European Union as a full member on 1 May 2004.Czech Republic joined NATO as a full member on 12 March 1999. Africa Country Formal relations began NotesCzech Republic is represented in Cape-Verde by its embassy in Lisbon, Portugal and an honorary consulate in Praia. Ethiopia is accredited to the Czech Republic from its embassy in Berlin, Germany. Czech Republic has an embassy in Addis Ababa. Czech Republic has an embassy in Cairo. Egypt has an embassy in Prague.1973Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1973 (with Czechoslovakia) and in 1993. Czech Republic is represented in Guinea-Bissau by its embassy in Accra, Ghana.See Czech Republic–Kenya relations
Czech Republic has an embassy in Nairobi. Kenya is accredited to the Czech Republic from its embassy in The Hague, Netherlands.1993See Czech Republic–Libya relations Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1993. Czech Republic has an embassy in Tripoli. Libya has a consulate in Prague.
Americas Country Formal relations began NotesThe Czech Republic is represented in Belize through its embassy in Mexico City and has an honorary consulate. Belize has an honorary consulate in Prague.1918See Brazil–Czech Republic relations
Brazil has an embassy in Prague. Czech Republic has an embassy in Brasília and a consulate-general in São Paulo.See Canada–Czech Republic relations
Canada has an embassy in Prague The Czech Republic has an embassy in Ottawa and a consulate-general in Toronto and an honorary consulate in Calgary.See Colombia–Czech Republic relations
Colombia is accredited to the Czech Republic from its embassy in Vienna, Austria. Czech Republic has an embassy in Bogotá and 3 consulates (in Barranquilla, Cartagena and Medellín).1922See Czech Republic–Mexico relations
Diplomatic relations between Czechoslovakia and Mexico were established in 1922. Mexico re-recognized Czech independence in 1993 after its separation with Slovakia. Czech Republic has an embassy in Mexico City and honorary consulates in Monterrey, Guadalajara and Tijuana.Embassy of the Czech Republic in Mexico City Mexico has an embassy in Prague.Embassy of Mexico in Prague Czech Republic has an embassy in Lima. Peru has an embassy in Prague. Relations were broken in 1957, but reestablished in 1969.See Czech Republic–United States relations
U.S. President Woodrow Wilson and the United States played a major role in the establishment of Czechoslovakia on 28 October 1918. The Czech Republic has an embassy in Washington, D.C., and consulates-general in Chicago, Los Angeles and New York. The United States has an embassy in Prague.See Czech Republic–Uruguay relations
The Czech Republic is accredited to Uruguay from its embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina.Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Embassy in Argentina Uruguay is accredited to the Czech Republic from its embassy in Vienna, Austria.Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Embassy of Uruguay in Austria
Asia Country Formal relations began Notes 30 March 1992 Armenia has an embassy in Prague. The Czech Republic has an embassy in Yerevan. The Czech Republic has recognized the Armenian genocide in 2017. Both countries are full members of the Council of Europe.29 January 1993The Czech Republic recognized the independence of Azerbaijan on 8 January 1992. Azerbaijan has an embassy in Prague. Czech Republic has an embassy in Baku. Both countries are full members of the Council of Europe and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).6 October 1949See China–Czech Republic relations
Czech Republic has an embassy in Beijing and consulates-general in Chengdu, Hong Kong and Shanghai. China has an embassy in Prague. The Czech Republic has an embassy in Tbilisi. Georgia has an embassy in Prague since 2006. The Czech Republic is an EU member and Georgia is an EU candidate. Georgian Ministry of Foreign relations about the relation with the Czech Republic See Czech Republic–India relations The Czech Republic has an embassy in New Delhi. Consulate of Czech Republic in India at Chennai, Mumbai and Kolkata. India has an embassy in Prague.See Czech Republic–Indonesia relationsSee Czech Republic–Iran relations The Czech Republic has an embassy in Tehran. Iran has an embassy in Prague.1993See Czech Republic–Iraq relations The Czech Republic has an embassy in Baghdad. Iraq has an embassy in Prague. The Czech Republic was part of the Multinational force in Iraq between 2003 and 4 December 2008.See Czech Republic–Israel relations
The government of Czechoslovakia recognised independence of Israel five days after its declaration on 19 May 1948. Diplomatic relations between both countries were established on 3 July 1948. Czechoslovakia supported with military aircraft and weapons newly created Israeli state for several months, however then-new communist government ceased this support and in few years even the diplomatic relations were broken. Communist regime did spread anti-Israeli propaganda, like all then socialist countries. After the Velvet revolution, the relations were renewed. The Czech Republic has an embassy in Tel Aviv and 4 honorary consulates (in Eilat, Haifa, Jerusalem and Ramat Gan). Israel has an embassy in Prague.
In December 2008 the Czech Air Force wanted to train in desert conditions for the upcoming mission in Afghanistan. No country agreed to help, except Israel. Israel saw it as an opportunity to thank the Czechs for training Israeli pilots when the country was first established.
There are 3,000 Jews living in the Czech Republic (see also History of the Jews in the Czech Republic).1919See Czech Republic–Japan relations Japan's first Minister Plenipotentiary to Czechoslovakia was Harukazu Nagaoka Relations between Czechoslovakia and Japan were broken off in 1939, and not re-established until 1957 The Czech Republic has an embassy in Tokyo and an honorary consulate in Kobe. Japan has an embassy in Prague.See Czech Republic–Kazakhstan relations The Czech Republic has an embassy in Astana and a branch office of the embassy in Almaty. Kazakhstan has an embassy in Prague and an honorary consulate in Jaroměř.See Czech Republic–Malaysia relations Czech Republic has an embassy in Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia has an embassy in Prague. Following the establishment of relations with the Soviet Union in 1968, Malaysia also expanded its relations with Czech Republic and other Eastern European countries. 1992See Czech Republic–Mongolia relations After the 1992 dissolution of Czechoslovakia, Mongolia reaffirmed its relations with the newly formed Czech Republic in 1993. The Embassy of the Czech Republic in Ulaanbaatar was formally reopened in 1999. According to reporting in Deník N, the Security Information Service expelled a North Korean diplomat who was attempting to circumvent the sanctions against North Korea. North Korea has an embassy in Prague. Czech Republic has an embassy in Pyongyang.See Pakistan-Czech Republic relations The Czech Republic has an embassy in Islamabad and two honorary consulates in Lahore and Karachi. Pakistan has an embassy in Prague. On 20 September 2008 the Czech Republic's ambassador to Pakistan, Ivo Žďárek, was killed in a blast at the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad. See Czech Republic–Philippines relations The current diplomatic relationship of the Czech Republic and the Philippines has its roots to the friendship of Filipino national hero José Rizal and Ferdinand Blumentritt even neither countries existed yet back in the 19th century. Rizal visited Blumentritt in the city of Litomerice, Bohemia (present day Czech Republic) in 1887. According to Filipino Foreign secretary Albert del Rosario, the friendship between the two men served as the foundation of the current bilateral ties between the two countries. Czech Republic has an embassy in Manila.