Czech foreign minister heads to Trump's Board of Peace after government U-turn

Czech Foreign Minister Petr Macinka will travel to the United States on Wednesday to attend the inaugural session of President Donald Trump’s newly formed Board of Peace.

While Prime Minister Andrej Babiš recently stated that the Czech Republic is not currently seeking full membership in the body, Macinka will join the Washington gathering in an observer capacity, reports the Czech News Agency.

The trip follows a period of internal government debate regarding the Czech Republic’s alignment with the new U.S. administration’s diplomatic initiatives.

Babiš confirmed on Monday that Macinka’s attendance was coordinated with the Prime Minister’s office. “I will represent the Prime Minister there,” Macinka said, noting he is scheduled to depart early Wednesday for the Thursday meeting at the United States Institute of Peace.

The Board of Peace, which Trump officially launched in January, on the sidelines of the Davos Economic Forum, is focused on resolving global conflicts, including a proposed framework for the post-war administration of Gaza.

Permanent membership in the council reportedly carries a fee of USD 1 billion, a figure Macinka previously described as "unthinkable" for the Czech state budget.

Founding members who signed the document in Davos included Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Argentine President Javier Milei, and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. More than 25 countries have since joined, including Bulgaria and Hungary from the EU. France and Slovakia have said they will not join at this time.

However, following the "Italian scenario," the Czech Republic intends to maintain a presence through observer status, which allows for diplomatic access without the financial commitment.

Macinka’s visit comes on the heels of a high-profile appearance at the Munich Security Conference, where he engaged in a sharp verbal exchange with former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

During the debate, Macinka defended Trump's "Peace through Strength" doctrine and criticized "climate alarmism," a performance that resonated with American Republicans despite drawing domestic criticism from the Czech opposition.

"The Republican door is now opened for him by his appearance in Munich," a high-ranking diplomat told Seznam Zprávy.

In addition to the Council meeting, Macinka could meet with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to discuss cooperation on critical minerals, a meeting previously postponed due to a weather-related flight cancellation. A meeting has yet to be confirmed.

The move remains controversial in Prague. Members of the Pirate and STAN parties have expressed concern that "crouching" in Trump-aligned structures will not bring the Czech Republic respect in Europe.

According to Seznam Zprávy, Macinka is also expected to meet Heritage Foundation representatives during his Washington visit, a connection with roots in Prague, where Heritage figures previously met Macinka at a CEVRO University lecture organized by former national security adviser Tomáš Pojar and MEP Alexandr Vondra.

The Heritage Foundation conceived and led Project 2025, the controversial blueprint published in 2023 to reshape the U.S. federal government.