On 23 April 2025, the State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Andžejs Viļumsons, met with the new Ambassador of New Zealand to Latvia, Paul Jared Ballantyne, who is in Latvia for an accreditation visit.
The diplomats discussed cooperation between the countries in the security sector and economy as well as in international organisations. The State Secretary thanked New Zealand for its support for Ukraine in the fight against Russia’s war of aggression, including the imposition of national sanctions against Russia. The officials agreed that at this time it is particularly important to continue sanctions against Russia while also supporting Ukraine.
Andžejs Viļumsons welcomed the successful cooperation with New Zealand as a like-minded country in the Indo-Pacific region. The State Secretary also called for an intensification of dialogue between the countries in both bilateral and multilateral formats, including the EU-New Zealand, the EU-Indo-Pacific dialogue and the UN.
Since the opening of the regional embassy in Canberra in 2021 and the accreditation of the non-resident Ambassador Marģers Krams in New Zealand, there are opportunities for more active cooperation between the two countries. Latvia and New Zealand are linked by an understanding of the role and interests of small countries in global politics, as well as shared values and principles such as democracy, a rules-based international order, and a free and fair trade. The countries see a common goal of stable and safe and economically developed Baltic and Indo-Pacific regions.
Bilateral relations between the Republic of Latvia and New Zealand (in Latvian) - https://www.mfa.gov.lv/lv/latvijas-republikas-un-jaunzelandes-divpusejas-attiecibas
