The Security Dimension of the Czech Foreign Policy
Since the Czech Republic joined the NATO in April 1999, the security agenda of the Czech foreign policy has never been discussed more than between the years 2007 and 2009. Apparently, the major issue at stake was the U.S. plan to build a component of the third pillar of the national missile defense on the Czech territory. The radar debate had significantly impacted both the foreign and the internal political agendas. The Czech diplomacy was involved in complicated negotiations with American partners and also became engaged in discussions over the missile defense issue in the EU and NATO and with Russia. Internally, the radar was established as an important topic of the regional and senate elections in 2008 and arguably influenced the results as the leftist challengers of the American plan swept out their rightist ruling opponents.
More...