“I am very pessimistic that Czechia will keep its place on the world stage in terms of support to Ukraine, because he’s [Babiš] is criticizing the ammunition initiative,” said the foreign minister. He’s saying that he will not provide any new money for Ukraine,” he added.
He went on: “It’s difficult to say what will be the final platform of the new government, but I’m afraid that it will destroy our international reputation because of anti-Ukrainian statements.”
Babiš’s populist style of politics has won him comparisons to U.S. President Donald Trump. His ally, Orbán, has often touted his special ties to the United States as proof that Hungary’s go-it-alone European policy is working.
For Lipavský, however, the chances of a rapprochement between Czechia and Washington under Babiš were slim due to his reluctance to spend more on defense — a key demand of Trump for his European NATO allies.
“Babiš attacks, for example, the procurement of [U.S.-made] F-35, the best plane in the world. We are procuring it and he wants to give it away,” said Lipavský.
“He’s promised so many things to people like on social welfare. And the only source is debt or money, which our government has put into increasing military expenditure,” he went on.
“Donald Trump is saying: ‘Spend more money on defense.’ What will Andrej Babiš do? Most likely spend less money on defense.”
“I don’t see that it will help to the relationship with the USA. It will do the otherwise. We will be perceived maybe like Spain in that way.”