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On Thursday, 15 January 2026, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Baiba Braže, welcomed the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of the French Republic, Jean-Noël Barrot. This was his first visit to Latvia. Both ministers discussed the security and defence of the Euro-Atlantic area, EU-NATO cooperation, support for Ukraine’s self-defence and pressure on Russia, the reinforcement of the EU and NATO external borders, the priorities of the EU multiannual budget, and EU enlargement.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs emphasised that this month marks 105 years since Latvia’s international de jure recognition. Aristide Briand, then President of the French Council of Ministers and Minister of Foreign Affairs, played an invaluable role in this. France has never recognised the Soviet occupation of Latvia.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Baiba Braže:
“I am delighted and honoured to welcome my friend and colleague Jean-Noël to Latvia on a working visit at this important moment. France is a reliable friend and a strategic ally of Latvia. Our cooperation continues to advance successfully on bilateral grounds, within the EU and NATO, and at the UN Security Council.
I would like to express my gratitude to France for its significant contribution to strengthening NATO’s eastern flank, including for the presence of the French troops in the NATO Multinational Battlegroup in Estonia, in the Eastern Guard in Poland, and for its regular participation in NATO airspace patrol mission in the Baltics. I am also grateful for France’s support for Ukraine, particularly its leadership within the Coalition of the Willing. Our shared priority is to achieve a sustainable and just peace in Ukraine and to contain Russia, including by strengthening targeted sanctions. This will be the best guarantee of security for Europe and the entire Euro-Atlantic area. We stand united in recognising that transatlantic cooperation is key to long-term security and prosperity in Europe.
At the same time, Europe must further strengthen its defence and deterrence capabilities and take the lead in reinforcing its own security. It is important for all allies to swiftly implement the historic decision of the NATO Summit in The Hague to increase defence spending to 5% of GDP. In 2026, Latvia will spend 4.91% of GDP on defence, while at least 0.25% of GDP will be allocated to Ukraine’s military support.”
Baiba Braže expressed high appreciation for France’s involvement in the Latvian and UK-led Drone Coalition, and emphasised that she was looking forward to welcoming French representatives to the Drone Summit in Riga this spring, which will be held for the second time.
The ministers discussed cooperation between Latvia and France in the UN Security Council, including the emergency meeting convened by Latvia this week to highlight Russia’s barbaric attacks on Ukraine, including the use of ballistic missiles, as well as today’s emergency meeting on the Iranian regime’s crackdown on the Iranian people, killing thousands of innocent civilians. The ministers also discussed the situation in Iran, the Sahel region, including Sudan, etc.
Latvia and France enjoy successful cooperation and good, practical initiatives in the military industry, including in the field of drone technology. For example, the company Edge Autonomy, one of the global leaders in unmanned systems technology with manufacturing and flight operations centres in both Latvia and the United States, in 2024, together with the French company Safran, presented the Lanner drone, developed for the needs of the French armed forces. A test batch has already been purchased by the French Ministry of Defence. This is an excellent example of transatlantic cooperation in the military field with a common goal, i.e. to enhance the defence and deterrence capabilities of Europe and the entire Euro-Atlantic area.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs also expressed her gratitude for France’s contribution in providing French language learning and professional development opportunities for Latvian teachers. The Bonjour to French programme was launched in 2024, and currently 40 teachers participate in the programme.
Both countries are working to enhance cooperation in the fields of economy, defence, and information integrity. France ranks as Latvia’s thirteenth largest foreign trade partner. In the first nine months of 2025, Latvia’s total foreign trade turnover with France amounted to EUR 991.9 million. Total exports of goods and services to France reached EUR 602.7 million, an increase of 7.23% compared to the first nine months of 2024. In terms of foreign investment in the capital of companies registered in Latvia, France ranks the eighteenth with a total investment of EUR 125 million and 272 companies (data as of 7 January 2026).