In Baltic security landscape, NATO membership of Finland and Sweden is last missing piece of puzzle - Smiltens

RIGA - In the Baltic region's security landscape, the NATO membership of Finland and Sweden is the last missing piece of the puzzle, Saeima Speaker Edvards Smiltens said during a meeting with Finnish Ambassador to Latvia Anne Kristiina Saloranta.

As LETA was told at the Saeima press office, the ambassador paid an introductory visit to the Latvian parliament on Friday.

The Saeima speaker and the ambassador agreed that Russia's invasion of Ukraine has changed the global landscape forever. Smiltens noted that an iron curtain has descended between Russia and the civilized world. 

"Ukraine unites us in our shared values and interests. We must to be a part of the struggle for freedom, independence and democracy," the Latvian parliament speaker believes. 

Smiltens urged Latvia and Finland to seek new ways of economic cooperation in order to meet current needs, including in defense. 

The ambassador noted good cooperation between Latvia and Finland not only in politics and defense, but also education and culture. The officials also discussed possibilities of strengthening energy independence and cooperation potential in the ICT sector. "We need to transform and improve our governance processes and learn from the good examples of other countries," said Smiltens.