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On 9 September 2026, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Baiba Braže, welcomed Helen McEntee, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and Minister for Defence of Ireland, on a visit. The Ministers signed a statement of intent concerning cooperation between Latvia and Ireland on reconstruction of Ukraine’s Chernihiv region.
Ireland has already allocated EUR 400,000 to a project implemented by Latvia, under which resilience centres are being established and equipped in the Chernihiv region to provide psychosocial assistance to women and children. The new statement of intent provides for an additional EUR 600,000 for the resilience centres project and EUR 200,000 for the reconstruction of the Chernihiv Psychoneurological Hospital.
The Ministers discussed future support for Ukraine, as well as Ukraine’s and Moldova’s integration into the European Union. Baiba Braže expressed hope that, during the Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU, it would be possible to open all negotiation clusters with both candidate countries.
In discussing the next EU Multiannual Financial Framework, Baiba Braže emphasised the need to secure funding for eastern border security, cohesion, agriculture and Rail Baltica as dual-use infrastructure. The Ministers also discussed joint action against Russia’s hybrid threats, including sabotage, cyberattacks, disinformation and the instrumentalisation of migrants.
Baiba Braže called for continued efforts to increase sanctions pressure on Russia by targeting its military-industrial complex, financial sources and shadow fleet.
The Ministers also discussed bilateral relations, placing particular emphasis on the potential for economic cooperation.
