Karins confirms to U.S. officials that United States is strategic partner and close ally of Latvia

RIGA - Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins (New Unity), during his meetings with U.S. senior officials in Washington earlier this week, confirmed that the United States was a strategic partner and close ally of Latvia, the State Chancellery informed LETA.

"At a meeting with U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, we discussed international security situation, especially in the Baltic Sea region, as well as opportunities for economic cooperation and increasing the volume of U.S. investment in Latvia," said Karins, who also informed Pence about the ongoing reforms in Latvia's financial sector.

Investment opportunities in Latvia, reforms to the financial sector's supervision system, strengthening transatlantic relations were the main topics of discussion with the U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin, and Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross.

Karins also participated in a public discussion about the relations between the United States and Latvia, organized by the Atlantic Council, and took part in the Hudson Institute's roundtable discussion about the importance of transatlantic relations.

Karins will now visit New York, where he will meet with businessmen and media representatives.