Latvia and Sweden are close allies, united in their firm stance on the EU’s continued support for Ukraine and the need to constrain Russia, said Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže, welcoming Sweden’s Minister for European Union Affairs, Jessica Rosencrantz, in Riga.
Minister Braže emphasised that this includes implementing further sanctions against Russia to decrease its revenues, which finance the war of aggression against Ukraine. The two ministers reiterated that Latvia and Sweden will continue to work together to expand the sanctions regime, including measures to restrict the activities of the shadow fleet.
Latvian Foreign Minister noted the two countries have a shared vision for developing the European security industry. She highlighted the need for the EU to invest more rapidly in its security and defence structures. This visit marks Jessica Rosencrantz’s first bilateral trip to a NATO member state since she took office on September 10, 2024.
Minister Braže thanked the Swedish government for its decision to rotate Swedish Armed Forces soldiers to the NATO Multinational Brigade in Latvia starting in 2025.
“Thank you, @Braze_Baiba, for a warm welcome & good discussions on Ukraine and European security. Looking forward to further strengthening Nordic-Baltic cooperation, as EU members and NATO allies, with up to 600 soldiers joining NATO Forward Land Forces in next year,” Minister Rosencrantz posted on X after her visit.
Latvian Foreign Minister also welcomed the active cooperation in the NB6 format (Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia) to coordinate joint positions on EU matters and in the NB8 format, particularly regarding support for Ukraine. The Baltic States and Nordic countries are the second-largest providers of military assistance to Ukraine. The officials pledged their commitment to continue supporting Ukraine, including military aid. They emphasised the importance of restoring Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, which has been severely damaged by Russian missile strikes, especially as winter approaches.
Additionally, Baiba Braže reiterated Latvia’s strong support for Sweden’s proposal to the European Commission to increase tariffs on Russian and Belarusian imports into the EU, which would further limit Russia’s ability to generate revenue.
In a conversation with the Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dace Melbārde, the officials addressed the EU’s continued support of Ukraine, topics concerning the EU’s competitiveness and security, and the EU enlargement process, highlighting progress made by Ukraine and Moldova. “Living at a time when we are confronted with the realities of the war against Ukraine, the EU values and mutual cooperation are of particular importance. Our priority is an economically resilient, competitive and secure Europe. At the same time, attention should be given to strengthening our defence industry and infrastructure as well as resilience at the EU level, including when decisions are made on the EU’s next multiannual budget.”
