EU-Canada Security and Defense Partnership will boost defense cooperation between Latvia and Canada - Rinkevics

RIGA - The EU-Canada Security and Defense Partnership will provide the opportunity to intensify defense cooperation between Latvia and Canada, Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics said while meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in The Hague, Netherlands, on Tuesday.

As the president's spokesman Martins Dregeris told LETA, the meeting took place ahead of the NATO Summit in The Hague and was the first meeting between the two officials since Carney took office as Canadian Prime Minister on March 14, 2025.

Rinkevics noted that it is significant and and logical that the participation in the NATO Summit starts with a bilateral meeting between Latvia and Canada, given Canada's key role in leading the NATO Multinational Brigade in Latvia. The president underlined that Latvia highly appreciates Canada's contribution to strengthening Latvia's security and defense.

"Latvia is fulfilling its responsibilities of a host nation with full responsibility to ensure the development of infrastructure appropriate to the Canadian and allied forces at its military bases Adazi, Ceri, Selonia and the air base Lielvarde," said Rinkevics, who invited Canadian Prime Minister Carney to visit Latvia.

The Latvian president welcomed the EU-Canada Security and Defense Partnership signed on June 23, and noted the opportunities to deepen economic cooperation between Latvia and Canada. Rinkevics also assured that Canada can count on Latvia as a reliable ally in Europe, which will support Canada in the effective implementation of the partnership.