One of the priorities of the new United States Ambassador to Latvia, Melissa Argyros, will be close cooperation between the two countries within NATO.
Argyros presented her credentials today at Riga Castle to President Edgars Rinkēvičs. Following the ceremony, she delivered brief remarks to journalists.
Argyros emphasized that it is a great honor for her to begin serving as United States Ambassador to Latvia. In her meeting with Rinkēvičs, she reaffirmed that it is a privilege to work in a country that shares the United States’ commitment to defending freedom.
“I expressed our respect for Latvia’s leadership in our shared defense,” Argyros said.
She noted that Latvia sets an example with its commitment to allocating 5% of its gross domestic product to defense. Ensuring secure borders is also a priority for Latvia, Argyros added.
At the same time,
she stressed that the partnership between Latvia and the United States extends far beyond security.
Her experience in business and philanthropy has shaped her approach to partnerships and problem-solving, she said.
“I am pleased about the opportunity to strengthen our trade ties by supporting investment, innovation, and cooperation in the energy sector. I am very grateful for the warm welcome, especially in this cold February. I look forward to continuing to build on our long-standing tradition of friendship,” Argyros said.
After the accreditation ceremony, Rinkēvičs and Argyros discussed bilateral cooperation, particularly the United States military presence, cooperation in security and defense, as well as collaboration in energy, the defense industry, and technology, the LETA news agency was informed by the President’s Communications Adviser Mārtiņš Drēģeris.
During the meeting, the President highlighted the historic role of the United States in Latvia’s independence and development, congratulating the US on its upcoming 250th anniversary of independence and noting the 105th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Latvia and the United States to be marked next year.
Rinkēvičs expressed gratitude for the continued United States military presence in the Baltic region and Latvia,
calling for an increased presence in Latvia. He underlined that Latvia is steadily increasing its defense spending, fulfilling the NATO Hague Summit commitment to allocate 5% of GDP to defense.
“Latvia recognizes its responsibility to safeguard the external border of the European Union and NATO with Russia and Belarus. We are investing in defense capabilities and infrastructure development, including the establishment of the largest military training area in the Baltics, ‘Sēlija.’ Joint exercises with United States and allied troops are mutually beneficial, enhance military interoperability, and send an important deterrence signal,” the President stressed.
During the meeting, Rinkēvičs also highly valued the strong bipartisan support for the Baltic states in the United States Congress.
“The United States Congress decision to continue supporting the Baltic Security Initiative is a strong affirmation of the close partnership between the United States and the Baltic states, as well as a direct contribution to strengthening NATO’s deterrence and defense on the Eastern Flank,” he said.
Rinkēvičs expressed confidence that close and pragmatic transatlantic cooperation is an indispensable element
for both European security and support for Ukraine. Latvia is a reliable ally in these efforts.
“We have stood shoulder to shoulder with United States troops in combating the threat of international terrorism in Afghanistan and Iraq, even before joining NATO,” the President emphasized.
On Friday, Prime Minister Evika Siliņa also met with the new ambassador. After the meeting, Siliņa stressed that Latvia and the United States share a similar understanding of security issues and border protection.
“Strengthening security goes hand in hand with economic development, which is why we discussed deepening economic cooperation between our countries. It is important for us to cooperate in new technologies — entrepreneurs from both countries have already explored each other’s market opportunities, which should be further expanded,” Siliņa commented.
The parties also discussed Latvia’s support for Ukraine,
with Latvia investing no less than 0.25% of its GDP annually. According to Siliņa, the ambassador appreciated Latvia’s achievements in energy security and its leadership in digital development.
Siliņa emphasized that Latvia highly values the United States as a reliable partner. The Prime Minister is confident that cooperation between Latvia and the U.S. will remain close and practical.
It has previously been reported that the United States Senate confirmed Argyros as ambassador to Latvia. She has no prior diplomatic experience but donated two million dollars to United States President Donald Trump’s inauguration, according to United States media reports.
According to her biography on the United States State Department website, Argyros is a real estate investor in California. She has held various positions in the Argyros family real estate company “Arnel & Affiliates,” including serving as vice president.
Argyros is also one of the executive directors of the Argyros Family Foundation,
which engages in charitable activities in various fields, and is involved in several public organizations, including the Ronald Reagan Foundation and the Richard Nixon Foundation.
In 2007, Argyros earned a bachelor’s degree from Chapman University in California.
In the United States, ambassadors are appointed not only from among career diplomats but also from among party supporters. For example, in 2004, then-President George W. Bush appointed Republican Party activist and donor Catherine Todd Bailey as ambassador to Latvia.
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