Latvia is open to Polish commercial banks' entry into its market - Rinkevics

RIGA - Latvia is open to the entry of Polish commercial banks into its market, President Edgars Rinkevics said during a state visit to Poland on Tuesday.

During the visit, Riunkevics met with the President of Poland Andrzej Duda, Marshal of the Sejm Szymon Holownia, and Marshal of the Senate Malgorzata Kidawa-Blonska.

Poland is a key strategic partner and ally of Latvia, playing a crucial role in our region's security, said Rinkevics.

He also thanked Poland for the presence of its Armed Forces in Latvia as part of the multinational NATO brigade, which significantly strengthens regional security and reaffirms Poland's role as a reliable ally.

"This cooperation is a testament to the strong historical ties between our nations and it reinforces our strategic partnership in security," said Rinkevics.

During his meeting with the senior officials of Poland, Rinkevics emphasized the importance of economic cooperation between the two countries. Poland is Latvia's 'physical gateway' to Europe, he said. Recently, Latvia successfully disconnected from Russia's unified energy system and integrated into Europe's common energy network, a process made possible by Latvia's collaboration with Poland, he said.

Moreover, Poland is one of Latvia's key trading partners. Currently, Polish tourists rank fifth among foreign visitors to Latvia. At the same time, Poland remains a popular travel destination for Latvian tourists, supported by multiple air connections to Warsaw, Krakow, Gdansk, and Rzeszow.

The meeting also covered future support for Ukraine and transatlantic relations. Rinkevics underlined the need for Europe to take greater responsibility for its own security. "We must continue to jointly urge NATO's European member states to increase their investment in national defense and security. In the coming years, security issues will remain a priority, and close cooperation and coordination between the Baltic States and Poland will be crucial," said the president.

This also includes strengthening the European Union's Eastern border, including through cooperation with the Baltic countries and Finland, tackling illegal migration, and addressing various threats in the Baltic Sea and the wider region, said Rinkevics.