Cooperation with US is foundation of security for Latvia and entire Baltic region - Melnis

RIGA - Cooperation with the United States is the foundation of security for Latvia and the entire Baltic region, Defense Minister Raivis Melnis has stated.

As LETA was told at the Ministry of Defense, Melnis and Interior Minister Janis Dombrava (National Alliance) on Tuesday met with US Ambassador to Latvia Melissa Argyros to discuss Latvian-US defense cooperation and initiatives to strengthen regional security by fostering closer cooperation between the Latvian Ministries of Defense and Interior and the US.

"Cooperation with the US is the foundation of security for Latvia and the entire Baltic region. In the current geopolitical situation, the US military presence in Latvia and our joint efforts to bolster our defense capabilities, as well as the strengthening of our eastern border, serve as a clear testament to allied unity. During this dynamic phase of growth in national defense capabilities, US expertise and practical support are taking on a new, even deeper strategic significance," Melnis noted.

Dombrava, for his part, said that Latvia's internal security is an integral part of the country's overall security. Furthermore, Latvia highly values US support in strengthening its capabilities to respond to modern security challenges, including the prevention of illegal migration, hybrid threats, and cross-border crime. "Strong cooperation with the United States is an essential prerequisite for the security of both Latvia and all of Europe," Dombrava emphasized.

During the meeting, the officials discussed bilateral cooperation between Latvia and the US in strengthening defense capabilities, the US military presence in Latvia, support for Ukraine, and the fortification of Latvia's eastern border.