On 22 May 2024, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Baiba Braže, met with the Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh, and the Minister of State for Foreign Trade at the Ministry of Economics of the United Arab Emirates, Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, who have arrived in Latvia on a working visit accompanied by a delegation.
The Foreign Minister pointed out that Latvia, being a member state of NATO, the OECD and the EU, offers a safe environment for investments. The Ministers welcomed the deepening of bilateral relations between Latvia and the UAE and discussed the ways to expand economic cooperation, for instance, through augmenting the scope of traditional sectors such as food industry, tourism and pharmaceuticals by also adding green technologies, 5G/6G, artificial intelligence, and biomedicine.
The Foreign Minister and UAE officials discussed current geopolitical situation and global security issues. Baiba Braže stated the opinion of Latvia on Russia’s full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine and its significant influence not only on regional but also on global security and prosperity. The Foreign Minister welcomed the UAE’s contribution to humanitarian aid efforts in support of Ukraine and the mediator’s role in the exchange of prisoners of war, while urging the UAE to scale up all possible support for Ukraine and to bolster up international efforts to end the Russian aggression. The officials also exchanged views on the conflict in the Middle East.
Baiba Braže also underlined that Latvia is interested in further strengthening sanctions against Russia and Belarus and in an effective implementation of the existing sanctions, as well as in preventing the circumvention of the current sanctions. Both countries advocate a system based on international law, stemming from the principles enshrined in the UN Charter (territorial integrity etc.) by ensuring international stability, including in trade and economic matters. The Ministers also discussed the issues of the protection of nationals.
In a ceremony at the end of the visit, the Minister of State Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh, and the Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže officially opened the UAE Embassy.
Foreign Minister Baiba Braže: “Diplomatic relations between Latvia and the United Arab Emirates have a long history of almost 30 years, dating back to 18 September 1995. Currently, the United Arab Emirates is Latvia’s largest trading partner in the Gulf region, and we hope to further expand economic and trade cooperation. Latvian companies are interested in developing cooperation and exports to the UAE, unlocking potential in new innovation-related areas with high value added, such as the space industry, green technologies, 5G technologies, and others. This visit and the official opening of the embassy brings an assurance that Latvia, being a member of NATO, the OECD and the EU, is a safe environment for international investment projects, and we look forward to successful and productive bilateral cooperation in future!” The Minister also noted that the UAE has become one of Latvia’s most popular tourist destinations: 12 000 tourists from Latvia visit the UAE annually.
The UAE delegation met with the senior officials of the state: the President of Latvia Edgars Rinkēvičs, and the Prime Minister Evika Siliņa. The delegation was also welcomed to the NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence (STRATCOM), and Riga Technical University to meet members of the academia and the private sector, including the representatives of start-ups.
Background information
The Latvian Embassy in Abu Dhabi has been functioning since 1 September 2014, and it is the first Latvian Embassy in the Gulf States. Latvia is represented in the UAE by the Ambassador Dana Goldfinča. The UAE Ambassador to Latvia, H.E. Hanan Khalfan Al Aleeli, is the only resident Ambassador of an Arab state to Latvia. Latvia and the United Arab Emirates maintain an active bilateral dialogue, including an economic one, and cooperation in international organisations.
