On 12 March 2025, in Vilnius, Lithuania, the Under-Secretary of State of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Political Director Ivars Lasis participated in the fifth political consultations between the Baltic states and Japan, aimed at strengthening the political dialogue between the Baltic States and Japan.
Japan is one of the strategically most important political and economic cooperation partners to the Baltic States’ in the Indo-Pacific region – a partner linked to us by a similar understanding of fundamental values and a rules-based international order. Strengthening cooperation with Japan is particularly important at a time when assistance from North Korea and China to Russia and its war of aggression against Ukraine are on a steady rise.
During the meeting, the Baltic officials thanked Japan for its principles-based position and support for Ukraine, and underlined the need to continue with assistance. Support for Ukraine is particularly important amid current efforts of seeking solutions to end the war and bring about a just and sustainable peace.
During the visit, Ivars Lasis had a meeting with the Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hisashi Matsumoto, to discuss bilateral cooperation, including in economy and security, which covers strengthening contacts in strategic communication. Ivars Lasis also welcomed the active political dialogue between the two countries, including an upcoming visit by the President of Latvia Edgars Rinkēvičs to Japan in May 2025 with an accompanying business delegation.
Background information
The Baltic states–Japan political dialogue was established in 2018 on the initiative of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The first meeting was held in Vilnius in 2018, the second in Riga in 2019, the third in Tallinn in 2022, and the fourth in Tokyo in 2024.
