On 22 May 2024, Nouakchott hosted the first political consultations between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Latvia and Mauritania.
The Under Secretary, Political Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia, Andžejs Viļumsons, and the Director-General for Bilateral Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mauritania, Mohamed El Hanchi Kettab, discussed the potential for cooperation between the two countries in digitalisation, fisheries, and agriculture.
The Mauritanian diplomat also highlighted the opportunities offered to Latvian fishermen by the EU-Mauritania Fisheries Partnership Agreement.
In the talks, a special focus was placed on cooperation in international organisations with the aim of collectively achieving solutions for sustainable development and fighting climate change, as well as promoting international peace and security.
Mauritania currently holds the Presidency of the African Union, which became a permanent member of the G20 in 2023 and is a close partner of the EU.
On his part, Andžejs Viļumsons presented Latvia’s perspective on the negative impact of the Russian aggression against Ukraine on international order, which creates a dangerous precedent. The situation in the Middle East was also discussed.
As part of the visit, the Latvian delegation met with the Acting Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mauritania, Mansour Abdoulaye Cissoko, and the Head of the EU Mission to Mauritania, Gwylim Jones, as well as visiting the Mauritanian Diplomatic Academy.
Since 24 January 2024, the Mauritanian non-resident Ambassador, Boubacar Kane, resident in Berlin, has been accredited to Latvia.
