Latvian and Irish foreign minister agree that further new EU sanctions should be imposed on Russia, Belarus and Iran

RIGA - Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braze (New Unity) and Irish Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs and for Defense Micheal Martin agree that further new European Union sanctions should be imposed on Russia, Belarus and Iran.

Braze and Martin are unanimous that Ukraine's victory is critical to peace in Europe and that we must continue providing Ukraine with everything it needs to fight against the Russian aggression. Latvia and Ireland strongly support the process of Ukraine's European integration, and have a very similar position on key issues on the EU agenda, in the United Nations and other international organizations, the Foreign Ministry informed LETA.

The ministers discussed security in Europe and other regions in the current geopolitical situation, issues of high importance for the EU, including preparations for talks on the multiannual budget, the future of the single market and EU enlargement, and bilateral relations between Latvia and Ireland. The Latvian foreign minister is in Ireland on a working visit on Wednesday and Thursday.

Ireland is a close partner to Latvia, and the two countries have developed close bilateral relations and successful cooperation - Ireland is an important trade partner to Latvia. Braze believes that Latvia and Ireland have considerable potential for further economic cooperation, especially in the technology sector.

"Ireland is interested in cooperating with Latvia in the fight against hybrid threats, which Latvia has a considerable experience in, taking into account Russia's regular and increasingly intensive hybrid activities targeting Latvia and other countries, especially in its border area," said Braze.

Braze welcomes the ongoing cooperation between Riga Technical University and Technological University Dublin. She believes that Latvia and Ireland have great potential for joint projects in science, education and culture. In addition, the two countries are also linked by a vast Latvian diaspora in Ireland, which comprises about 25,000 people and is one of the largest Latvian communities abroad, Braze added.

Latvia is currently standing as a candidate for an elected member's seat on the UN Security Council for the term of 2026-2027, which is one of the instruments in pursuit of Latvia's foreign policy goals. Braze expressed her thanks for Ireland's support and experience shared with the Latvian Foreign Service in relation to work in the United Nations Security Council.

In a meeting with Sean O Fearghail, Speaker of the House of Representatives at the Irish Parliament, Braze underlined the significant role of parliaments in providing assistance to Ukraine and voiced her hope to welcome a delegation from the Irish Parliament at the Parliamentary Summit of the International Crimea Platform in Riga in October.

In a conversation with Sean Clancy, Chief of Staff of the Irish Defense Forces, Braze discussed cooperation between the EU and NATO, resilience and UN peacekeeping efforts.

At the Latvian Embassy in Ireland, members of the Latvian diaspora organizations in Ireland gathered for a meeting and a conversation with the foreign minister, while a discussion on key issues in Latvia's internal and foreign policy was also joined by Zanda Grauze, Ambassador-at-Large at the Diaspora Group of the Foreign Ministry. Braze voiced her gratitude to the Latvian community for preserving their Latvian identity while living abroad and for engaging in political processes, she also urged them to cooperate with the Latvian Embassy in Ireland.