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On 17 September 2025, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Latvia to the French Republic, Alise Balode, submitted her credentials to Albert II, Prince of Monaco.
In the accreditation ceremony, the officials discussed bilateral cooperation and cooperation in the United Nations and the Council of Europe, with a particular focus on protecting the marine and ocean environment, combating disinformation, as well as further support to Ukraine and a tough sanctions policy against Russia.
The Ambassador thanked Monaco for supporting Latvia while it sought membership of the UN Security Council, and she confirmed that Latvia will continue to actively advocate for values shared by the two countries in order to maintain a law-based international order. The Ambassador expressed satisfaction with the current and planned participation of Latvian musicians in the music festivals organised in Monaco, as well as in the Opéra de Monte-Carlo.
As part of her accreditation visit, Alise Balode met with the Foreign Affairs Minister of Monaco, Isabella Berro-Amadei, and the Minister of Health and Social Affairs, Christophe Robino. The Minister of Health and Social Affairs welcomes the agreement signed in 2024 between Latvia and Monaco on cooperation in the field of health and medical sciences and invites the Minister of Health of Latvia on a return visit in order to begin the implementation of exchange projects for medical professionals and the reconstruction of hospitals.
The Ambassador also gave a presentation at the Monaco Chamber of Commerce and Industry on the opportunities for economic cooperation between Latvia and Monaco, including in the tourism sector, as well as the attraction of investment and support mechanisms in Latvia. She then met with representatives from the MonacoTech startup incubator to brief them about the innovation and technology environment and enterprises in Latvia.
Alise Balode visited the Monaco Scientific Centre and had a discussion with representatives of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation about possibilities for cooperation on topics related to the marine environment, in particular, the development of aquaculture in Latvia.
During her accreditation visit, the Ambassador was accompanied by the Latvian Honorary Consul in Monaco, Jean-Claude Eude.
Diplomatic relations between Latvia and Monaco were established on 15 October 2008. Latvia’s first Ambassador to Monaco – Jānis Kārkliņš, Ambassador of Latvia to France resident in Paris – was accredited on 12 March 2009.