On 2 and 3 February 2024, the State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia, Andris Pelšs, took part in an informal meeting of the foreign affairs ministers of the European Union (EU), or the so-called Gymnich.
The meeting featured a discussion on the long-term perspective of the EU-Africa cooperation with a view to developing an equal and results-based partnership, as well as on relations between the EU and Turkey. The focus was also placed on the crisis in the Middle East and the latest developments in Ukraine.
Regardless of the changing geopolitics, which brings new challenges to the European Union’s agenda on a daily basis, Latvia believes it is important that the European Union does not to forget about Ukraine. After the positive decision of the European Council reaching an agreement on the Ukraine Facility, work is not over yet: the European Union urgently needs to address the critical military and defence needs of Ukraine in order to ensure support in the fight against Russian aggression.
During the Gymnich, an informal meeting also took place with foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).