/From our special correspondent in Washington/
Just before Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala arrived at the White House, a wild downpour swept through Washington. And while the black car with both the Czech and American flags was approaching the west wing of the US President’s residence, hail joined the rain.
However, the gloomy weather outside did not spoil the mood inside the Oval Office, where the Prime Minister headed after his arrival and was greeted by Joe Biden. In the presence of journalists, the pair exchanged pleasantries and praised each other’s country before they both moved on to a private meeting.
In his opening speech, Biden did not forget to mention, for example, the anniversary of the Czech Republic’s accession to NATO and described the Czech Republic as a great partner, with which relations have only strengthened over the past 25 years. He also singled out Czech aid to Ukraine and its people, which he said he greatly appreciates, and thanked the Czech Prime Minister for it.
“You are a great ally, we are getting closer, we are stronger, we have deepened defense cooperation, we are also working together on clean energy. I appreciate how you are helping Ukraine,” Biden said.
The strength of current Czech relations with the USA was also mentioned by Prime Minister Fiala, who reminded Biden, for example, of the American origins of the wife of Tomáš Garrigua Masaryk, the first Czechoslovak president, or Madeleine Albright, the former US Secretary of State, who was born in Czechoslovakia.
“We are partners in NATO, we cooperate in defense and business. But the most important thing is that we share the same values,” said the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic in the famous Oval Office. He also mentioned the challenges that both countries face – Russian aggression in Ukraine, terrorism and events in the Middle East.
“In 1968 I was a little boy and I saw Russian tanks in the streets of my city. I don’t want to see them there again. We must continue with Ukraine’s support as long as possible,” added Fiala.
Private meeting
Behind closed doors, the pair discussed, for example, Czech-American relations, and Biden reportedly recalled his visits to the Czech Republic. “Mr. President acknowledged his very warm relationship with the Czech Republic,” Fiala added after the meeting and mentioned that the American leader appreciated the role of the Czech Republic in the current international environment.
The international situation was not left out either, which according to the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic “is not easy”.
“We discussed a number of topics related to the current situation in the world and security issues. We talked extensively about Ukraine and the help it needs. And we agreed on the need for its continuation,” informed the prime minister at the press briefing, adding that Biden appreciated the Czech initiative to purchase ammunition for Ukraine.
What did Fiala bring to Biden as a gift?
Prime Minister Petr Fiala brought with him to the White House a framed photograph of Václav Havel with Madeleine Albright by Václav Havel’s court photographer Oldřich Škácha, which was taken during her visit to Prague in October 2003.
Next, the prime minister will hand over a glass to Joe Biden kropenku in the light blue color of UMPRUM student Anna Martinková from Rony Plesl’s studio, which was created in a limited number of one piece in each color.
Fiala and Biden also talked about the situation in the Middle East or economic relations between the US and the Czech Republic, which, according to Fiala’s earlier words, “need a new impulse.” Together with Biden, they therefore discussed, for example, the potential of cooperation in the field of energy.
Czech-American relations
Both Joe Biden and Petr Fiala have been talking for a long time about the excellent relations between the USA and the Czech Republic. For example, the American ambassador to the Czech Republic, Bijan Sabet, spoke positively about them, and in an interview for Seznam Zprávy, he described them as stronger than ever before.
It was the persistent and already mentioned support of Ukraine, which the Czech government underlined with a successful initiative to purchase ammunition in third countries, that opened the door for Fial to the White House. However, economic cooperation also plays an important role.
According to Fiala, the turnover of mutual trade with the US is growing every year. It is far from a one-sided relationship anymore – Czech companies actively invest in the United States, cooperate with local partners and employ thousands of Americans. The seven largest Czech companies even recently invested 2.2 billion dollars (roughly 50 billion crowns) in the USA.
More details about the objectives of the visit
The invitation to the White House was also helped by the Czech initiative with ammunition for Ukraine. But the Americans also want to talk about nuclear cooperation, despite the fact that Westinghouse will not build in Dukovany.
However, as Seznam Zprávy has already described, Czech-American relations were previously bound by a somewhat stronger bond. One of the points on which they could falter a bit now could be access to China, among others. The Americans pamper those politicians who strongly oppose it. However, ODS is trying to find a pragmatic approach to the Eastern power.
Without a doubt, Fiola’s goal was to strengthen the current connection between the countries and present the Czech Republic as an important and good partner.
According to Michael Žantovský, former ambassador to the USA and ex-consultant of President Václav Havel, it is actually about re-establishing close relations, as the meeting comes after a very long time.
It can certainly be said that the Czech Republic maintains mostly warm relations with the USA, and this is evidenced by the fact that, in addition to the Czech prime minister, only German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, together with the Polish president, have been invited to the White House from the Central European region. Andrzej Duda.
Remind yourself
Security is a topic that – despite the strongly polarized situation in Polish politics – unites. Proof is the trip of Polish President Andrzej Duda and Prime Minister Donald Tusk to Washington. Both were received by White House chief Joe Biden.
Petr Fiala’s invitation to the White House came five years after his predecessor Andrej Babiš visited the American president. But then Donald Trump was the head of the United States. In the past, several other Czech politicians visited the residence of American presidents, we can name, for example, Petr Nečas or Václav Havel.
Even before visiting the White House, Fiala spent the morning at the headquarters of the American intelligence service CIA, where he met with its director William Burns and his colleagues. Together with him, the heads of the Czech secret services Michal Koudelka (BIS), Jan Beroun (Military Intelligence) and Vladimír Posolda (Office for Foreign Relations and Information) and national security adviser Tomáš Pojar also attended the meeting.
The topic was the security situation in the world.
“The invitation to the CIA center and the debate showed both a high degree of trust on the part of the United States, but it is also an appreciation of the cooperation in the security field and between the intelligence services, which has been going on here for a long time,” commented the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic.
About the White House
132 rooms, 35 bathrooms, 28 fireplaces, eight staircases, three elevators and one president who heads one of the most powerful countries in the world. This is roughly how the iconic White House in Washington, to which the Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala (ODS) was invited, could be summed up in numbers.
In detail:
