On Wednesday, the 25th of February, Minister of Defence Andris Sprūds met with the United States Ambassador to Latvia, Melissa Argyros, for an introductory visit to discuss Latvia–US defense cooperation and initiatives to strengthen regional security.
During the meeting, the officials discussed bilateral cooperation in strengthening defense capabilities, the US military presence in Latvia, support for Ukraine, and the reinforcement of NATO’s external border. The minister emphasized that the United States is a key strategic partner for Latvia in maintaining transatlantic unity.
“We are grateful for the presence of US armed forces in Latvia and for support within the framework of the Baltic Security Initiative. We provide excellent host nation support and are ready to expand our cooperation. Latvia supports the US position that Europe must take greater responsibility for strengthening its own security. We are purposefully investing in the development of the National Armed Forces, increasing the defense budget to 5% of GDP, and actively participating in joint exercises. We particularly value cooperation between our two countries in defense industry projects, which have significant development potential, including in technological innovation and the advancement of electronic warfare and drone systems,” Sprūds stated.
During the meeting,
the minister congratulated the ambassador on assuming her duties
and expressed confidence in the continuation of close and dynamic cooperation.
Ambassador M. Argyros is an experienced entrepreneur and philanthropist from California who has focused her work on education, healthcare, culture, and community development.
The United States is Latvia’s strategic partner and ally. Until the restoration of Latvia’s independence in 1991, the US consistently pursued a policy of non-recognition of Latvia’s occupation, made an invaluable contribution to the restoration of Latvia’s independence, and supported Latvia’s integration into NATO and the European Union. Security policy forms the foundation of Latvia–US bilateral cooperation. Latvian and US officials maintain regular political dialogue on current regional and international developments, the Ministry of Defence reports.
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