In a significant diplomatic move, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala hosted his Slovak counterpart, Robert Fico, in Prague, marking Fico’s first foreign trip since regaining power in September’s elections. Fiala emphasized the public’s expectation for close ties between the Czech Republic and Slovakia at the highest political level.

The meeting addressed crucial areas of collaboration, including energy, transport, security, and defense. Both leaders expressed their commitment to sustaining joint government meetings, with plans for their cabinets to convene in the Czech Republic this spring.

Fico highlighted that the visit was more than a courtesy call, acknowledging that relations between the two countries had somewhat waned over the past 30 years since the dissolution of the Czechoslovak federation. He attributed this to a lack of recent opportunities for revival due to various crises, including the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

While sharing similar stances on most issues, Fico clarified the Slovak government’s opposition to arms supplies to Ukraine. However, he emphasized the absence of contradiction on core values and stated a shared belief in a diplomatic, non-military resolution to the conflict in Ukraine.

The leaders discussed a range of collaborative initiatives, including energy sector cooperation within the European nuclear alliance and joint efforts on energy routes traversing Czech and Slovak territories. Transport collaboration featured prominently, with both countries expressing interest in joining the European high-speed rail network.

Defense and security cooperation were underscored by Fiala, who noted the Czech Republic’s ongoing commitment to protecting Slovak airspace and leading a NATO battlegroup in Slovakia until 2024. The nations also announced plans for joint acquisitions in the defense industry, including the procurement of CV90 tracked combat vehicles.

Migration emerged as a bilateral concern, prompting Fiala to stress the importance of effective joint action by European countries to avoid long-term border checks. Fico reassured that Slovakia remains committed to its EU and NATO memberships, allaying concerns about any shift in foreign policy orientation.

Fiala concluded by expressing readiness to convene a meeting of the Visegrád Group (V4) prime ministers after the formation of the new Polish government. Despite differing views on certain international political matters, both leaders emphasized the potential for fruitful cooperation on specific issues, underscoring the resilience of their bilateral relations.

Article by Prague Forum