Ambassador Argyros and President Rinkēvičs Convene U.S. and Latvian Business Leaders to Advance Commercial Ties

U.S. Ambassador to Latvia Melissa "Lisa" Argyros joined President of Latvia Edgars Rinkēvičs in Yorba Linda, California to convene American and Latvian business and civic leaders for a conversation on, "The United States and Latvia: Partners in Prosperity, Trade, and Friendship." The program featured a discussion between President Rinkēvičs and former U.S. Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy.

The discussion focused on expanding investment and innovation between the United States and Latvia, priorities central to Ambassador Argyros's engagement since arriving in Riga and to President Rinkēvičs's visit to the United States. “National security begins with economic security,” said Ambassador Argyros. "Our economies are growing together, creating jobs on both sides of the Atlantic and helping free Latvia from Russian energy. Stronger U.S.-Latvia business ties make a stronger Latvia – and a stronger United States."

The event marked a key stop on a broader visit by President Rinkēvičs aimed at strengthening U.S.-Latvia commercial ties, with particular focus on biosciences, defense technology, and film sectors, which both governments have identified as investment and partnership priorities.

This conversation also came at a consequential moment for the transatlantic alliance and the U.S.-Latvia relationship. Latvia will invest 5 percent of its gross domestic product in defense starting in 2027, among the highest levels in NATO and a direct answer to President Trump's call for European allies to share the burden of collective defense. In June, Latvia and the United States signed a letter of intent establishing a joint digital drone and counter-drone acquisition platform, and NATO opened an innovation range for uncrewed and counter-uncrewed systems on Latvian territory earlier this year. U.S. and Latvian officials have described the deepening commercial relationship as inseparable from that security partnership, a message Ambassador Argyros and President Rinkēvičs reinforced before American and Latvian business leaders at this event.

“The United States is a strategic partner and trusted ally of Latvia, and we want to take our economic ties to the next level.  For American companies, Latvia offers reliable partnership, advanced digital services, talented people, and access to the entire EU market. I invite businesses across the United States, including California, to get to know Latvian companies and grow together with us,” President Rinkēvičs said.