On 27 June 2022, the Lithuanian city of Šiauliai hosted an informal seminar of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Latvia and Lithuania, which included a bilateral meeting between the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia, Edgars Rinkēvičs, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, Gabrielius Landsbergis, and a discussion between the senior officials of the two ministries on current issues in regional and security policy. The Ministers also visited the Šiauliai Air Base.
The Foreign Ministers underscored the importance of cooperation between Latvia and Lithuania in response to the war waged by Russia in Ukraine, which has changed the security environment in the region. The Ministers agreed that all possible further support should be rendered to Ukraine towards its reconstruction. The officials also emphasised that close contacts and coordination between the two countries should continue bilaterally, with partners in the EU and NATO, and internationally.
At the seminar, representatives from the Foreign Ministries exchanged views on the global and regional security situation and Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, as well as taking stock of progress with infrastructure projects important for the Baltic region and discussing bilateral cooperation matters.
The informal seminar of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Latvia and Lithuania is being held for the sixth time. The event is organised annually on a rotational basis either in Latvia or Lithuania.