Latvia and Sweden share common understanding of regional security - Mierina

RIGA - Latvia and Sweden share close relations in all areas of cooperation, including the NB8 format, parliamentary dialogue and a common understanding of security in the region, Saeima Speaker Daiga Mierina (Greens/Farmers) said during a meeting with the Swedish Ambassador to Latvia, Karin Hoglund.

As LETA was told at the Saeima Press Office, the outgoing ambassador paid a farewell visit to the Latvian parliament on Tuesday.

The Saeima speaker thanked the ambassador for her work in Latvia, initiatives to strengthen bilateral relations, including in security and defense, business, culture and education, as well as for the activities of various foundations.

Mierina and Hoglund highlighted Sweden's accession to NATO as a significant event during the ambassador's tenure. The two sides agreed that this was an important milestone in bilateral relations and regional security. The Saeima speaker and the ambassador also stressed the need to strengthen public resilience.

The Saeima speaker said that the presence of Swedish troops in Latvia is essential for a united security policy both within the region and across the European Union (EU). The ambassador noted that cooperation between the Baltic region and the Nordic countries has never been closer.

Mierina and the ambassador agreed that finding a solution that would stop the war in Ukraine as soon as possible represents a major global challenge. The Saeima speaker noted the need for the international community to constantly raise the issues of holding Russia accountable for its crimes, using frozen Russian assets for Ukraine's reconstruction, sanctions against Russia and human rights issues.