In a telephone conversation, the newly elected US President Donald Trump asked about Latvia’s vision of the situation in the region, including in the context of Ukraine, President of Latvia Edgars Rinkēvičs told journalists after a meeting with Prime Minister Evika Siliņa on Wednesday, the 20th of November.
He stressed that it was a good, excellent and cordial conversation during which Rinkēvičs congratulated Trump on his election as US President. They discussed bilateral relations, defence cooperation and economic cooperation, especially in the energy sector.
They also discussed issues related to NATO, including defence spending and US leadership. Rinkēvičs stressed that US leadership is crucial in this situation. The President said that they agreed that both in NATO and bilaterally the US and Latvia would be close allies, and that Latvia was ready to continue the good relations it has enjoyed with the US.
Asked to comment on Trump’s position on a number of issues, including Ukraine, the President said that he had already said everything he wanted to say about the phone call and did not intend to disclose the details of the conversation. The Head of State stressed that the President-elect was interested in Latvia’s views on the situation in the region, including in the context of Ukraine, but that it was more about what decisions the new US administration would take.
The President of Latvia also emphasised that this was the beginning of cooperation and was not an isolated element in the relations between the countries.
He also mentioned that Latvian officials had experience with Trump during his first presidency, which will be put to good use when working with the new US administration. Rinkēvičs underlined that Latvia has good relations with both US parties. He pointed out that not only Trump, but also both chambers of the US Congress will get down to work next January.
The President of Latvia said that a meeting of the “Big Five” foreign affairs group would be held next week, on Monday, attended by the country’s top officials. The officials are expected to discuss coordinated cooperation between the executive, the legislature, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Presidency to strengthen security, support for Ukraine and what the plan is to talk to the US government and legislators at all levels.
Rinkēvičs added that the conversation lasted ten minutes. He explained that such a conversation usually starts with congratulations on the election of the President. According to the President, the conversation with Trump was announced soon after the elections, which took some effort. The original date was the 18th of November, but the call had to be postponed until the 19th of November, as Latvia then celebrates its Independence Day. Trump took this opportunity to convey his greetings to the Latvian people on the occasion.
Asked whether any specific decisions had been taken during the conversation, the President of Latvia said that the US President was deeply interested in the views of the region, Latvia and Rinkēvičs on the issues already mentioned. He also stressed that no decisions could be taken for the simple reason that Trump would take office as US President on the 20th of January and that Joe Biden was currently serving as US President, but that the questions Trump had formulated were precise and detailed.
LETA has already reported that the US presidential elections were held on the 5th of November, with the Democratic Party candidate, Vice President Kamala Herries, and former US President Trump running for the White House. Trump will be inaugurated as President on the 20th of January.