Pavel: Czechia Cannot Afford Two Foreign Policies

Czech President Petr Pavel told ambassadors gathered at Prague Castle that the country must present a single, unified foreign policy abroad — not one crafted by the government and another by the head of state. According to him, an internal split on this issue would be a gift to Czechia's rivals.

"Abroad, there is only one Czech Republic. There is no government team and no presidential team — there is only the Czech team. And you are all part of that larger Czech team," Pavel told the ambassadors.

He said he was not prepared to accept a situation in which the country effectively pursues two separate foreign policy lines. "To throw up our hands, shrug, and say: well, Czechia will just have two foreign policies — that is not a path I'm willing to accept," the president stressed.

Seeking Compromise at Home

Pavel said he intends to work toward overcoming domestic political disagreements on security and other issues. "I will strive to ensure that we are able to overcome our internal differences over views on security and other matters — that we come together, negotiate, and seek compromise in the interest of the whole country," he said.

In his address, the president also stressed the need to respond to the shifting security landscape. He noted that new alliances and formats of cooperation are being built today on trust and current needs, meaning Czechia cannot afford to simply watch from the sidelines.

Betting on Alliances and Technology

"In times like these, it is not enough to merely react or observe. We must know where we want to belong. I am deeply convinced that it is in our country's vital interest to be an active part of those groupings where our future — and the future shape of Europe and the transatlantic space — is being decided," Pavel said.

If Czechia stays on the sidelines of such coalitions, the country will miss out on important opportunities, the president warned. "The reshaping of the world is not only a matter of foreign policy, defense, and security. It is a matter of our country's future prosperity — whether in the defense industry, new technologies, energy, or trade," he noted.

In Pavel's view, national prosperity today is inseparable from security concerns: countries seen as reliable allies automatically become attractive partners for investment, industrial cooperation, and technology projects. Strengthening alliance ties will be a top priority for the president — starting with neighboring countries, as well as with states across Europe and the North Atlantic region.

Around Prague, based on reporting by novinky.cz