On 8 October 2024 in Riga, the Head of the Planning Group at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Eduards Stiprais, met with the United States Congressional Staff delegation on their visit to the Baltic States. Eduards Stiprais commended the bilateral relations between Latvia and the United States and transatlantic unity, which is particularly important in the current geopolitical situation. He underlined the need for transatlantic partners to continue with maximum support to Ukraine while joining efforts to rein in Russia in the long term and prevent the circumvention of sanctions.
During their stay, U.S. congressional staffers met with Latvian officials at the Saeima (the Latvian Parliament), the Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministry of Defence, as well as visiting the Camp Ādaži military base to meet with U.S. servicemen stationed in Latvia.
The delegation took part in a discussion with experts from the Latvian Institute of International Affairs and the Centre for East European Policy Studies, followed by a visit to the office of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty in Riga, the Museum of the Occupation and also Edge Autonomy, a company where they gained insight into to drone technologies.
The United States Congressional Staff delegation was staying in Latvia from 5 to 8 October 2024. Such visits to the Baltic States have been organised on a regular basis since 2013. They help the United States Congressional Staff to explore the security situation on the ground in the Baltic region and to understand the Baltic States’ needs for strengthening their security.