On 23 January 2024, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Krišjānis Kariņš, launched the annual meeting of the heads of diplomatic missions of Latvia. In his address to the Ambassadors, the Minister emphasized the main tasks of the Latvian foreign service, which should be paid special attention to and targeted with efforts on the part of diplomatic missions: strengthening transatlantic relations, cooperation with like-minded countries in the security policy field, the European Union matters and promotion of foreign economic cooperation, facilitation of regional cooperation, including in the format of the Baltic States and Nordic countries, and coordinated action on issues of international importance.
“The key mission of foreign policy is to safeguard the independence and freedom of our country. In recent years, the foreign policy tasks have become more challenging due to the global security situation becoming more complex. What we do and intend to do in these circumstances: first, strengthen our security; second, build closer cooperation with the European Union and NATO; and third – on what we set to make an all-out effort this year – build and reinforce relations with like-minded countries around the world. Friends are never too many, and Latvia must help explain the real reasons for Russia’s war against Ukraine, namely, that Russia is guided by imperialist and colonialist ambitions. A thank you goes to our diplomats for their selfless work for Latvia – I am sure that together we will perform the task entrusted to us by standing on guard for Latvia’s independence and freedom,” Krišjānis Kariņš noted.
The Foreign Minister also focused on the matters of development of the diplomatic service, the dynamics of diplomatic work at the missions, and other daily issues of importance for the foreign service.
The Ambassadors are urged to continue working on the promotion of the country’s foreign trade policy and economic relations and the attraction of investments, which has already become a substantial part of the missions’ activities.
The Minister and the Ambassadors also engaged in a discussion on other international policy topics, including the enlargement of the European Union and NATO, Latvia’s representation in international fora, developments in the Middle East and its influence on global economies, as well as the sanctions policy against Russia.
The meeting was also attended by the Prime Minister Evika Siliņa, who delivered a speech.
This year, the heads of Latvia’s diplomatic missions are gathering for their annual meeting in Riga from 22 to 26 January.
On the first day of the event on January 22, in addition to meetings with senior officials of the State, members of the Saeima, line ministers and sectoral experts, the Ambassadors had the opportunity to acquaint themselves with the operation of two successful Latvian exporting companies specialising in the robotic wind turbine maintenance technology and the development of concrete technology.
The meeting was attended by 45 heads of Latvia’s diplomatic missions abroad and the Latvian Ambassadors residing in Riga.
