From 15 to 18 April 2025, a United States Congressional Staff delegation is visiting Latvia. Visits by the U.S. Congressional Staff to the Baltic states have been taking place on a regular basis since 2013 and are aimed at building an in-depth understanding of the security situation in the Baltic states and plurilateral cooperation between the U.S. and the Baltic states.
A meeting with the Deputy Secretary of State, Political Director Ivars Lasis, addressed bilateral cooperation between Latvia and the U.S., defence matters, foreign policy developments and security situation in the region, while focusing on the impact of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. He underlined the importance of a close strategic partnership between Latvia and the U.S. and expressed his gratitude for the United States’ unwavering support to Latvia and the security of the Baltic states. Ivars Lasis highlighted Latvia’s desire to continue deepening relations between the two countries both in the field of security and economic cooperation, especially in the defence industry, technology and energy sectors.
U.S. congressional staffers were also welcomed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Baiba Braže, for the brief meeting, in which she underlined the unwavering cooperation and mutual support between Latvia and the U.S.
The delegation’s schedule also includes a meeting with U.S. soldiers stationed in Latvia at Ādaži Military Base, and a visit to the LMT mobile operator. The company is cooperating with the National Armed Forces on the research and implementation of various security and defence technology solutions. Meetings are also planned with officials in the Saeima (the Latvian Parliament), the Office of the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Defence, as well as a visit to the Museum of Occupation.
Each year, the United States Congress makes an assessment of, and assigns funding for the development of the Baltic states’ defence sector under the Baltic Security Initiative. In 2024, the United States Congress approved USD 228 million towards the development of defence capabilities in the three Baltic states.
