Polish President stresses importance of close Euro-Atlantic cooperation and US presence for regional security

RIGA - Poland and Latvia are unanimous about the importance of close Euro-Atlantic cooperation and US presence for the region's security, Polish President Karol Nawrocki said during a visit to Latvia on Thursday.

Security and infrastructure were the main topics of his talks with Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics. During the meeting, the presidents discussed issues related to infrastructure projects, including Via Baltica and Rail Baltica. He believes that the development of the projects requires joint involvement of Poland and the Baltic states.

The two sides discussed hybrid warfare and the pressure on the countries' eastern borders due to the threat posed by Belarus and Russia. Nawrocki noted that the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, as well as the Baltic states, bear great responsibility for European security.

Poland spends 5 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) on defense, the Polish politician said, and welcomed Latvia's decision to allocate a similar share of its budget to defense.

The Polish president said that he had invited the Latvian president to participate in a meeting on Baltic Sea security, which would also discuss the invitation to Poland to the upcoming G20 summit.

At the joint press conference, Nawrocki said that relations between Poland and Latvia are based on close historical ties and common experience, which have formed the basis for current mutual understanding and cooperation.

The Polish leader said that since taking office, he has often met with Latvian President Rinkevics, and these meetings in different formats confirm the close cooperation. Nawrocki pointed to the presence of Polish soldiers at the Adazi military base, which symbolizes the two countries' shared responsibility for security.

The talks also touched on the European Union (EU), environmental and energy issues, as well as the Baltic states' connection to the European electricity grid. The Polish president said that there is still much to be done in the region.

In the area of economic relations, the president noted that bilateral trade turnover amounts to EUR 3 billion per year and that Poland is one of Latvia's most important trade partners.

Nawrocki thanked the Latvian president for his support for the Polish community in Latvia, including radio broadcasts and the teaching of Polish in Latvian schools. Nawrocki said that Latvia's 45,000 Poles can count on the president's support.

He concluded by expressing his confidence that Poland and Latvia will remain allies and friends in the decades to come.

As LETA was told at the State Chancellery, Prime Minister Evika Silina (New Unity) also met with the Polish president on Thursday.

"Latvia and Poland are very close allies. Our countries share a common responsibility for the security of the region, close cooperation in the defense of the EU's external borders, as well as a common vision for the future of the EU and NATO," said Silina.

The Latvian prime minister and the Polish president discussed long-term investments in security and defense, including energy independence from Russia. Silina said that Poland has been an important ally and support to the Baltic states during their disconnection from the Russia-controlled BRELL power grid. "We also work closely together to fight illegal migration and jointly coordinate assistance to Ukraine," said Silina.

She also noted that Latvia and Poland share economic, historical, person-to-person, and cultural ties. "We have a large Polish community in Latvia and this is an important link between our countries," the prime minister said.