On 11 December 2023, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia, Krišjānis Kariņš, took part in the meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union in Brussels, which focused in its agenda on the EU’s further support to Ukraine in fighting against the Russian aggression and on developments in Israel and the Middle East as well as holding a discussion on the Sahel region in Africa.
The Council began with an informal exchange of views with the Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dmytro Kuleba, to whom Krišjānis Kariņš reaffirmed Latvia’s continued support. The discussion on Ukraine takes place at a crucial moment. The Minister noted that the EU must take decisions on the EU’s strategic financial and military assistance to Ukraine and on the opening of accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova. This is a matter of the EU’s credibility because Ukraine is waging not only its own, but also our war, the Foreign Minister underlined.
Commenting on current developments in the Middle East, Krišjānis Kariņš called for the focus to be placed on a two-state solution, clearly asserting that the issue should become the central priority on the EU agenda, at which all our efforts should be directed. A two-state solution would create security for Israel and reduce the grounds for radicalisation, the Latvian Foreign Minister said.
In a discussion on the Sahel, the Foreign Minister urged the Council to reflect on how to maintain a meaningful EU influence given the increasing spread in the region of the narrative cultivated by Russia.
