The Czech government has decided to call off its planned intergovernmental talks with Slovakia, which were set for late April and early May. This decision comes in part due to a recent meeting between Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar and Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, as explained by Czech Premier Petr Fiala on Wednesday. However, the recent encounter in Turkey between Slovakia’s Foreign Minister, Juraj Blanár, and Russia’s Sergei Lavrov has emerged as a significant point of contention for many in Prague. This has led to tensions rising over disparities in foreign policy approaches.
Prime Minister Petr Fiala of the Czech Republic mentioned on his X (formerly Twitter) that while cooperation with Slovakia remains a crucial matter for their country, they cannot overlook the recent meeting between the Slovak Foreign Minister and his Russian counterpart. “Therefore, we do not consider it appropriate to hold intergovernmental consultations with the government of the Slovak Republic in the coming weeks. We have decided to postpone the planned meeting, and we have already informed the Slovak side about this,” he added.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico addressed the situation in a video statement, affirming that the Slovak government will “never allow such a threat to undermine our deep Slovak-Czech relations.” He claimed that “the Czech government has chosen to jeopardise our relations simply because it is interested in supporting the ongoing war in Ukraine, whereas the Slovak government openly speaks for peace. Your decision will not affect our sovereign Slovak foreign policy.”
On the other hand, former Slovak Minister of Foreign Affairs and current presidential candidate Ivan Korčok insisted that the Slovak side alone bears full responsibility for the deterioration of relations with the Czech Republic. “The Slovak government is leading Slovakia towards isolation, burning bridges with its neighbours, losing allies, and causing serious harm to national-state interests,” Korcok wrote on Instagram.
According to The Guardian, an unnamed Czech official speaking anonymously said that the Czech Republic “was concerned that Slovakia is heading in the wrong direction.” Another official added that “while we need to collaborate with the Slovaks on practical matters concerning our neighbouring countries, there is little space for actions like organising a joint government session after Fico’s statements and their foreign minister’s meeting with Lavrov. This is not only because of, but also considering the timing of the EU Parliament elections campaign.” A second Czech official expressed similar worries: “We are rather troubled by this situation.”
They elaborated, “Fico closely monitors public opinion polls and is aware that over 50% of Slovaks [and a significant majority of his supporters] favour Russia over Ukraine. His statements are primarily directed at the domestic audience, but they could potentially lead to international disruptions.”
