“The Baltic states are the closest allies and friends of the United States, both within the framework of NATO and in the Euro-Atlantic space. The congressmen of both parties and officials of the new administration particularly welcomed our countries’ leadership in NATO in terms of investments in security and defence, energy independence, as well as the Baltic leadership in support of Ukraine. The Baltic ministers informed their hosts about strengthening energy independence of their countries, the purchases of liquefied natural gas from the U.S., and disconnection from the Russian and Belarusian electricity grid (BRELL). The Baltic and U.S. officials have a shared position on the need for Europe to invest more in its defence and for further strengthening of NATO’s capabilities, including at the NATO summit in The Hague.
We have a shared understanding that Russia is the most direct threat to the Euro-Atlantic and Allied security. Weakening of Russia will help ensure a lasting and just peace in Ukraine and serve as the best security guarantee for the entire Euro-Atlantic area and peace and stability in other regions of the world. We agree that Russia can only be constrained through a “peace through strength” approach,” Baiba Braže underlines after a joint visit by the Baltic states’ Foreign Ministers to the U.S.
The Baltics and the U.S. agree that security is fundamental to everything – neither economic growth and competitiveness, nor prosperity and development are possible without it. Baiba Braže notes that the U.S. is allocating significant amount of funding annually for the security of the Baltic states – around USD 230 million towards weapons purchases.
The ways for further expanding cooperation in the defence, security and energy sectors were discussed with members of the Congress from both parties and the U.S. administration. “Together with U.S. officials, we have clearly identified a range of practical security and economic cooperation projects of our shared interest – one of them being energy independence, including the purchases of U.S. liquefied natural gas. We also agreed to cooperate in the defence and security sector, especially in cyber security and hi-tech fields, where Latvia has covered considerable ground – namely, in 5G/6G and quantum technologies,” Baiba Braže said. It should be noted that Baiba Braže delivered an introductory address at the Annual Cyber Policy Awards, an event for the cyber policy community hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, in which she highlighted the importance of a strategic public-private partnership to confront external threats and strengthen the security situation.
The Foreign Minister, together with the Estonian and Lithuanian Foreign Ministers, met with the U.S. President Donald Trump’s Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia, Keith Kellogg. The officials agreed that strong support to Ukraine must be continue on the battlefield and in negotiations at the diplomatic table, and that Russia must be contained as much as possible, including by reinforcing sanctions. Baiba Braže underlined that peace must not come at the expense of Ukraine: it must be just, sustainable and rooted in the principles of international law. Baiba Braže briefed Special Envoy Kellogg about the work under way on the EU’s 16th sanctions package against Russia, scheduled to be approved by 24 February, which marks three years since Russia began its war of aggression against Ukraine. She outlined Latvia’s priorities in the next rounds of sanctions – further erosion of Russia’s military capabilities, continued pressure on Russia’s energy sector, trade in dual-use goods, the financial sphere, and propaganda machinery, as well as further sanctioning of the “shadow fleet” vessels. Baiba Braže thanked the U.S. for current cooperation and progress on sanctions.
Topics discussed with U.S. politicians during the visit included EU migration policy and combatting illegal migration and instrumentalisation of migration, as well as the experience of the Baltic states in countering threat posed by Russia. Baiba Braže emphasised that Latvia strengthens and protects the external border of the EU and NATO. She also stressed that Latvia is and will remain among top spenders in NATO in terms of investments in security and defence – we are approaching 4% of GDP, and the expenditure will be even higher in the coming years. Views were also exchanged with members of the U.S. Congress and the administration on the Baltic states’ course towards energy independence – disconnection from BRELL and joining the European electricity grid. This was also one of the main themes for the Baltic Foreign Ministers’ discussion at a National Press Club Newsmaker in Washington.
During her working visit to Washington, D.C., Baiba Braže met with members of the U.S. Congress from the House of Representatives and the Senate, and a number of think-tanks, as well as taking part in the Transatlantic Forum held by GLOBSEC, an international security think-tank.
The Senate
- The Foreign Minister engaged in a discussion with Senator Steve Daines, Chair of the Europe Subcommittee on the U.S. Congress Foreign Relations Committee and Chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, on expanding cooperation in technologies, the transition of the Baltics to energy independence from Russia, and the need for further limiting Russia’s ability to wage its war against Ukraine.
- Baiba Braže had meetings with Senator Jim Risch, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Senator Elissa Slotkin, Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. The Foreign Minister also met Senator Ted Cruz, Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- The Baltic states’ Foreign Ministers met with Senator Dick Durbin and Senator Chuck Grassley, Co-Chairs of the Senate Baltic Freedom Caucus, Senator Jeanne Shaheen, member of the caucus, Senator Pete Ricketts, and Senator Amy Klobuchar. It was Durbin and Grassley who introduced the Baltic Security Initiative Act, bipartisan and bicameral legislation to effectively codify the Baltic Security Initiative (BSI). The initiative enhances and strengthens U.S. security cooperation with the Baltics amid Russia’s unprovoked war in Ukraine and heightened tensions with China. Owing to Senator Durbin, USD 228 million in defence funding was secured under the BSI in 2024.
The House of Representatives
- In a conversation with Congressman Keith Self, Chair of the Subcommittee on Europe on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, the Minister underlined that the U.S. leadership and a strong Europe were of key importance to counter future threats,
- Baiba Braže met with Congressman Brian Mast, Chair of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs; Congressman Gregory Meeks, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs; Congressman Gabe Amo, Vice Ranking Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs; and Congressman Bill Keating, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee Europe on the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
- The Foreign Minister also met with Congressmen Salud Carbajal and Don Bacon, Co-Chairs of the House Baltic Caucus.
- The Foreign Minister had meetings with Congressman Joe Wilson, Chair of the House Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the Helsinki Commission, and Congressman Ken Calvert, Chair of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee on the House Committee on appropriations.
Think-tanks and interest organisations
- In her speech at the GLOBSEC Transatlantic Forum 2025, Baiba Braže emphasised that present-day geopolitical challenges make NATO Allies more united than ever before in the Alliance’s history – NATO’s greatest strength lies in its unity, and only through concerted and decisive action it is possible to keep peace and security in the transatlantic space.
- In discussions with experts from a conservative think-tank, The Heritage Foundation, Baiba Braže highlighted Latvia’s foreign policy priorities – to strengthen transatlantic cooperation and security, including in the energy sector and cyber security. The Minister pointed out that the U.S. and the EU are the world’s closest-integrated economies, and in the current geopolitical climate it is of critical importance to diversify supply chains while relying on trustworthy partners.
- In a meeting with members of the American-Central European Business Association (ACEBA), Baiba Braže highlighted Latvia’s priorities, including a deeper U.S. economic engagement in Latvia, especially in military industries, ICT, the AI and technology sectors, in which Latvia has achieved success (5G testing projects at Ādaži military base, quantum technologies, development of 6G solutions).
- The Baltic Foreign Ministers engaged in a public discussion with Washington-based journalists at the National Press Club, focusing on Baltic energy independence (disconnecting from the BRELL grid), support to Ukraine, and enhancing NATO capabilities.
The Foreign Ministers also met with Michael Sawkiw, Jr., President of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America.
Further information
- Foreign Minister Baiba Braže to make a working visit to the USA
- Bilateral relations between Latvia and the US (in Latvian)
- The aim of the visit by the Foreign Ministers of the Baltic states – to expand relationship with the US, including in NATO, on a regional level and bilaterally, and to discuss cooperation in support of Ukraine and constraining Russia.
- The visit to Washington, D.C., took place from 4 to 7 February.
- Recording of the discussion at GLOBSEC (Baltic states Foreign Ministers as from 2:30)
