U.S. Ambassador Christopher Robinson Presents Credentials to the President of the Republic of Latvia

RIGA – Christopher Robinson, the new U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Latvia, presented his credentials to President of Latvia Egils Levits at Riga Castle on February 21.

Statement from Ambassador Robinson:

“I am honored to begin my work as U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Latvia. Latvia is our friend, partner, and NATO ally. I look forward to continuing our close relationship with the Latvian government and the people of Latvia, and to exploring this beautiful country.

As we approach the one-year mark of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, we must continue working together to support Ukraine and hold Russia accountable for its aggression. I admire Latvia’s leadership and resolve in supporting Ukraine. Americans and Latvians realize that Ukraine’s fight is part of something much bigger: if we stand by in the face of such blatant attacks on liberty and democracy and the core principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity, the world would surely face worse consequences.

I also stand ready to work with Latvia to keep our Alliance strong and ensure we are ready to defend every inch of NATO territory.

Our partnership is the strongest it has ever been. In 2022, the United States and Latvia celebrated 100 years of diplomatic relations, and I look forward to beginning the story of our next century of friendship.”

Ambassador Robinson was nominated by President Joseph R. Biden to serve as U.S. Ambassador to Latvia and confirmed by the U.S. Senate on December 13, 2022. He was sworn in at the Department of State on January 26, 2023.

A career member of the Senior Foreign Service, Ambassador Robinson most recently served as Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs. Prior to that, Ambassador Robinson was Minister Counselor for Political Affairs at U.S. Embassy in Moscow, Russia. Previously, he served as Deputy Director for Russian Affairs at the State Department, as Political Counselor at the U.S. Mission to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Vienna, Austria, and as Political Counselor in Managua, Nicaragua. Other assignments include Iraq, Belarus, Canada, Russia, and assignments in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs and the Bureau of European Affairs.

Ambassador Robinson received an M.S. in Strategic Studies from the National War College and a B.A. in International Affairs from the George Washington University. He is the recipient of multiple State Department performance awards, including a Distinguished Honor Award. He speaks Russian and Spanish.