The Czech Republic is preparing to sign its first formal cooperation agreement with an American state, choosing Texas as its partner.

The memorandum will be signed next week during a visit to the United States by Industry and Trade Minister Karel Havlíček.

The agreement will establish a structured partnership between the Czech Republic and Texas, the second-largest and second-most populous state in the United States. It will also mark the first time Prague has concluded this type of memorandum with an individual U.S. state.

The signing is expected to take place in Austin, the Texas capital, during the South by Southwest (SXSW) festival, where Havlíček will meet Texas Governor Greg Abbott. The minister’s trip to the United States is scheduled for March 9–15 and will also include meetings in Washington.

According to the Czech Foreign Ministry, the partnership reflects long-standing historical and cultural links between the two regions.

Texas is home to the largest community of Americans who claim Czech ancestry. Czech migrants began settling there in the 19th century, leaving a lasting mark on local culture and traditions.

These historical ties have been reinforced by military cooperation. Since 1993, the Czech Army has worked with the Texas National Guard under the U.S. State Partnership Program. The collaboration includes joint exercises, conferences and exchanges of expertise, including work in cybersecurity, military communications and artificial intelligence.

Officials say the new memorandum aims to expand cooperation beyond defense into economic and technological sectors. Internal ministry materials describe Texas as a major opportunity for Czech companies, particularly in energy, information technology, aerospace and defense industries.

A delegation of Czech business leaders will accompany the minister to the United States. Many represent firms focused on innovation and emerging technologies, which will be showcased during events linked to the SXSW festival.

The planned declaration outlines several areas of cooperation, including advanced manufacturing, energy transformation, biotechnology and the chemical industry. Officials also expect the agreement to strengthen partnerships between universities and research institutions in both regions.

According to the draft memorandum, both sides are interested in exploring joint opportunities in nuclear energy, renewable energy development, battery storage, hydrogen technologies and carbon capture systems. Infrastructure projects aimed at strengthening supply chains are also under discussion.

Political ties between the Czech Republic and Texas are also notable. Texas has been a Republican stronghold for decades; the last Democratic presidential candidate to win the state was Jimmy Carter in 1976. Republicans have held the governorship for more than thirty years and currently occupy the state’s top leadership positions.

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