Latvia and lithuania Reaffirm Commitment to Ukraine support and Stronger Sanctions Against Russia
The foreign ministers of Latvia and Lithuania held a meeting to discuss key issues of regional security and bilateral cooperation, with a strong emphasis on continued support for Ukraine and bolstering sanctions against Russia. Both ministers agreed on the urgency of approving the 19th package of sanctions and working to limit Russia’s “shadow fleet.”
Discussions also covered the preparation of the next multi-year EU budget, with a focus on strengthening the external borders of both the EU and NATO, alongside enhanced border control and efforts to combat illegal migration.
Latvian Foreign Minister Baže highlighted Russia’s ongoing attempts to exploit vulnerabilities and test the readiness of European nations, predicting continued targeting of critical civilian and logistical infrastructure. She reiterated that Russia’s ultimate goal remains to divide and undermine European unity and support for Ukraine. Baže emphasized the importance of continued collaboration with allies, including Great Britain, Canada, and the United states, in maintaining effective sanctions.
The ministers expressed satisfaction with the current level of coordination within various multilateral frameworks, including the Nordic countries, the Baltic states, the EU, and NATO. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Budris congratulated Latvia on its recent election to the UN Security Council and expressed hope for strong collaboration during Latvia’s term. He also extended an invitation to Baže to attend the 31st meeting of the Baltic Council’s foreign ministers in Latvia on November 14th.
Both countries affirmed their commitment to developing cooperation in areas such as details and interaction technologies, the defense industry, and energy. they also celebrated the joint success of their Baltic Pavilion exhibition at Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan. Latvia and Lithuania noted the positive impact of the NATO mission ”Eastern Guard” in strengthening Baltic airspace security. Lithuania is currently Latvia’s largest trade partner and third-largest investor.
Beyond security and economic matters, the ministers attended the Baltu Award ceremony, recognizing Lithuanian poet and translator Vlads Brazjūns for his contributions to strengthening literary and cultural ties between Latvia and lithuania.
