Geopolitical issues dominated all discussions, particularly the war in Ukraine and the conflict in the Middle East, including strategies for the so-called “day after” in Gaza. Minister Lipavský emphasized the global nature of these wars.“I said that what Iran is to Israel, Russia is to us. That is a sentence everyone here understands well. I also talked about The EU-Israel Association Council, which is a crucial platform for opendiscussions, aligning positions, and addressing global challenges,” the Czech foreign minister stated on Wednesday evening.

During his meetings, the minister presented the perspectives of Czech diplomacy and explored further opportunities for Czech companies in Israeli projects. “From an economic perspective, our partnership is flourishing. In 2023, bilateral trade exceeded one billion dollars. Czech exports to Israel reached 848 million dollars, while Israeli exports to Czechia amounted to nearly 200 million,” Lipavský said at a press conference.

During his visit, the Czech foreign minister also met with Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer and the families of abducted Israelis. He also visited Yad Vashem, the memorial to the victims and heroes of the Holocaust. Last but not least, the minister inaugurated the Czech Embassy’s role as NATO’s contact point in Israel. The Czech embassy will fulfill this role for the next two years.