Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic

Profile narrative

The Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the government body responsible for shaping and executing the foreign policy of the Czech Republic. It maintains diplomatic relations with other states through a network of embassies, consulates and permanent missions to international organisations. The ministry provides consular assistance to Czech citizens living or travelling abroad, including passport services, emergency aid and legal support. It also promotes economic, cultural and scientific cooperation abroad, seeking to enhance the country's international standing and trade opportunities.

In addition to its diplomatic functions, the ministry participates in multilateral forums such as the United Nations, European Union, NATO and the Organization for Security and Co‑operation in Europe, where it advocates Czech positions on peace, security, human rights and development. It coordinates with other government departments on issues that have an external dimension, such as defence policy, migration and climate change. The ministry’s work is guided by Czech law and international treaties, and it regularly publishes statements, press releases and policy papers to inform the public and stakeholders about its activities.

The ministry’s prominence makes it a frequent target of cyber‑espionage campaigns, as evidenced by several reported incidents. In 2016, Russian‑linked groups Turla and APT28 compromised over 150 staff mailboxes, exfiltrating emails and personal data while remaining undetected for nearly a year. Similar patterns emerged in 2017, when dozens of email accounts were breached in an attack likened to operations against the U.S. Democratic Party, and in 2019, when a foreign state—widely suspected to be Russia—conducted an intrusion that the Senate’s security committee linked to earlier Russian‑linked intrusions. Most recently, in mid‑2025, an Asian cyber‑espionage group conducted reconnaissance on the ministry after a presidential meeting with the Dalai Lama, extracting confidential emails and other data. These episodes highlight the strategic value of the ministry’s communications and the need for robust cyber‑defence measures.

Structurally, the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs is a constituent part of the Czech Republic’s executive branch, headed by a minister who is appointed by the President on the proposal of the Prime Minister. It operates under the authority of the government and is accountable to both the Parliament and the President. The ministry does not have a parent company or subsidiaries in the commercial sense; its subordinate units consist of diplomatic missions, consular offices and internal administrative departments that implement its mandate abroad and domestically.

Incidents

4 incidents linked to this organisation.