Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken engaged in a conversation with Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský, focusing on the current situation in Syria. Since 2012, Czechia has acted as the protecting power for U.S. interests in the region. Blinken reiterated the U.S.'s intention to maintain this arrangement and acknowledged Czechia's efforts in supporting U.S. citizens in Syria, even following Bashar al-Assad's fall.
During their discussion, Blinken emphasized several areas of collaboration that reflect shared values between the two nations. These include Czechia's military, political, and humanitarian support to Ukraine; joint efforts regarding Taiwan and challenges posed by the PRC; and initiatives to enhance defense spending and bolster NATO’s collective defense. This includes acquiring U.S.-made F-35s, marking the largest military procurement in Czechia’s history.
Spokesperson Matthew Miller provided these details about the call.
