In a compelling expose, American journalist Erik Best reveals how American generals and ambassadors are pulling the strings of Czech foreign policy under the leadership of Prime Minister Andrej Babiš. From secret briefings on the munitions initiative to the suspicious arrest of a Chinese spy sabotaging warming relations with China, uncover the geopolitical chess game shaping the Czech Republic's stance on Ukraine, agreements with the EU, and tensions in the Trump era. Essential reading for truth-seekers and everyday observers of global affairs looking for „US influence on Czech politics“ or „Babiš's relations with China“.
In the shadowy world of international power games, few stories are as compelling as the one set in Prague. Erik Best, an astute American journalist who has lived in the Czech Republic for more than 30 years and founded the insightful Final Board newsletter, doesn't believe in the coincidences of politics. In an explosive YouTube interview on „Inconvenient Truths,“ he dissects who really runs Czech foreign policy. Spoiler: it's not just Prime Minister Andrej Babiš. As Best says, in an allusion to the movie The Godfather, interests collide and merge in unpredictable ways - but the U.S. sits at the top of the pyramid.
Imagine the following scenario from 9 December, just hours after Babiš was appointed Prime Minister. A secret meeting at Prague Castle. The participants? Czech President Petr Pavel, Babiš himself, and U.S. Army General Curtis Buzzard, NATO's chief representative for Ukraine support and training. According to information leaked by the newspapers Deník N and Respekt - which has been circulating for several weeks without any denial - the general minced no words. He called on the Czech Republic to stick to the „ammunition initiative“, a key supply of ammunition to Ukraine, even though Babiš's incoming government wanted to cancel it. These were „non-public but not secret“ details that were leaked because someone on the Castle side resented Babiš's U-turn. Translation: Washington dictates the terms, President Paul is the interpreter, and Babiš is the reluctant recipient.
Best stresses the hierarchy: first the Americans, then the Europeans (the Germans and French even lower) and the Czech voices are drowned out. US ambassador Victoria Fulfulde reportedly met with presidential adviser Michal Macenka and gave the green light to Czech policy towards China to reflect Uncle Sam's tough stance. Why? Past Czech flirtations with China - remember the politicians flying to Huawei events - have inflamed trade relations. Now Babiš's team, through adviser Kmoníček, is proposing to „normalise“ relations without giving up on Taiwan. But here comes the drama: a Chinese „spy“ (actually a journalistic assistant under Section 318a for unauthorized foreign influence activities) is arrested by police, just after a visit by a senior Chinese deputy foreign minister.
Coincidence? Erik Best sees two possibilities. One: Timed to thwart Babiš's plan to repeal Section 318a, a pet project of outgoing security chief Petr Koudelka. Czech Television's Lukáš Tolanský alluded to this. Second: deliberate sabotage orchestrated by the US to prevent a warming of relations with China. Babiš, stunned, immediately backtracks: no cancellation for now. Justice Minister Pavel Blažek counters that the proposal is still on the table. Erik Best predicts Chinese retaliation - expulsion of a Czech journalist? Mutual arrests? After years of Czech provocations, Beijing has remained silent. But not anymore.
Homemade fireworks add fuel to the fire. President Paul clashes with Babiš's candidates. He rejects Filip Turk as minister, citing his criminal record - constitutionally risky, but politically astute with public support. Macenka criticizes the „ruined“ relationship between his office and the Castle and promises to press Pavel on the appointment. Babiš's coalition boasts 108 MPs, but Pavel manoeuvres freely. The best part: Presidents with support can bend the rules.
Journeys to Ukraine reveal contradictions. Foreign ministers Macinka and Turek visited Kiev, then Pavel flew in - without informing Babiš, who claims control over foreign policy. Macinka knew about it. No explanation from the Castle Office. The best revenge for Babiš's brazen announcement of the program via data mailbox. Echoes of past bypasses of the chain of command, like when Chief of General Staff Karel Rehka shunned his minister.
Then a „coalition of the willing“ - a pact on long-term arms for Ukraine, security guarantees, ceasefire monitoring, multinational forces and anti-Russian commitments. Babiš confirms Czech membership but signals opposition: no troops, pressure on Trump's peace efforts. Erik Best praises Europe's signal: adapt to US realism instead of endless escalation. But European hawks supporting Ukraine are inadvertently helping Putin by putting pressure on Kiev.
Erik Best, who is not ashamed of his American affiliation, calls the USA „the biggest friend and the biggest enemy“ of the Czech Republic. Friend: Trump's civilisational defence favours Central Europe (Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary) over „Islamised“ Western Europe and rejects their nuclear weapons. Enemy: Forcing the purchase of F-35s (needing Chinese chips?), 50% military spending increase to a base of $1 trillion. Babish lacks courage. Despite parliamentary strength, Western bankers hold Agrofert (Babiš's empire) hostage via loans. No resistance means the Czech Republic is bleeding cash.
Geopolitics seeps into trade: the EU-Mercosur agreement. The Czech Republic supports it - a rare EU „victory“ - despite the fury of Poland and Hungary over the flood of agricultural products. Visegrád? Sacrificed for EU solidarity. The best part: the Czech vote is irrelevant in qualified majorities; Babiš nods.
Global echoes in Davos. Canadian Mark Carney (former head of the Bank of England/Canada) admits that the post-war order is a fraud. „The power of the powerless,“ he quotes Havel, dictating to the middle-sized states: Adapt or perish. Greenland? The US will dominate it regardless of Europe. Democracy? International law? Best Carney quote ever: It never really worked. Power rules. Babiš seeks to isolate Central Europe from the extremes of the US/EU. But without courage, Czech sovereignty limps.
Erik Best's verdict, Babiš has a vision but no leverage against US power. The Czech Republic faces Trump 2.0, China's retaliation, the Ukraine quagmire. For ordinary people: roads, deals, arrests of heads of state? They are often pre-arranged abroad. For geopolitics fans: This is the pinnacle of great power poker. Wake up - power decides where votes don't.
gnews.cz - GH
Source: YouTube video
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