On 18 October 2024, in a meeting with the Minister Delegate for European Affairs of France, Benjamin Haddad, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Baiba Braže, thanked France for its contribution to the security of the Baltic region. The Ministers agreed that, given the geopolitical situation, European countries should increase their defence funding and capabilities in line with NATO’s defence plans.
Baiba Braže and Benjamin Haddad also agreed that the provision of Ukraine with all the support it needs – political, military, financial and moral – should continue.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Baiba Braže: “Latvia and France agree – there is a need to step up military assistance to Ukraine, as well as providing comprehensive support for the implementation of Ukraine’s victory plan, as European security is closely linked to Ukraine’s success on the battlefield.”
The Foreign Minister welcomed the strategic partnership between Latvia and France. An active political dialogue and cooperation between the two countries are taking place in various fields. France is an important economic partner to Latvia, and the Minister called for advancing cooperation, especially in the military industry. The officials rated highly the current cooperation in education, and Baiba Braže thanked France for its contribution to promoting the French language learning in Latvia, including in schools.
When discussing the directions of the EU’s economic development for the next five-year period, both ministers were unanimous on priorities for promoting EU competitiveness – improving the business environment, reducing administrative burden, making the widest possible use of green industries, and research and innovation in business.
The meeting then addressed cooperation in international organisations. The Foreign Minister called on France to support Latvia’s candidacy in the 2025 UN Security Council elections.
On 18–19 October, Benjamin Haddad is in Latvia for a working visit. On Saturday, 19 October, he will participate in a high-level discussion at The Rīga Conference 2024, “War Calls for Urgent Measures: How will Allies Ensure Near Term Readiness?”.
