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On 19 November 2025, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Baiba Braže hosted the traditional festive reception to celebrate the 107th anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic of Latvia.
Baiba Braže thanked all cooperation partners – Allies, members of non-governmental organizations, entrepreneurs, media representatives – who have supported Latvia. The Minister offered special gratitude to the Allies who are with us in Latvia, standing guard against Russian threats and other challenges in the world, so that we can fight them together.
The Minister underlined that Latvia knows that peace is neither a given nor something self-evident and that the Latvian state did not appear just like that – we fought for it and defended it together.
Baiba Braže pointed out that security and defence will also be priority areas in Latvia’s budget next year, with 4.9% of GDP allocated for those purposes. It will include initiatives supporting entrepreneurs, exporters, as well as favourable conditions for improving the investment environment in Latvia. We listen to our business partners, including the Coordination Council for Large and Strategic Investment Projects and other formats, so that we can plan for 5% of GDP to ensure the needed levels of security and defence spending. Next year’s budget is a security budget.
It is of great importance to our friends around the world. Latvia strongly supports further efforts of the EU in promoting the conclusion of free trade agreements – be it with MERCOSUR countries, Indonesia, or Australia. This will benefit us all. We strongly support the enlargement of the EU, as well as raising the EU’s competitiveness in the world.
The Minister welcomed the positive steps towards peace initiatives, including the resolution adopted by the UN Security Council on further process in the Middle East. Baiba Braže also expressed her full support for the efforts of the U.S. President and his approach towards Russia, both in achieving peace in Ukraine and in terms of global solutions.
The festive reception also featured a performance by the Latvian Diplomatic Choir: Nevis slinkojot un pūstot (Not in Indolence) by Andrejs Jurjāns with the lyrics translated into Latvian by Juris Alunāns; Tu esi (You Are) by Raimonds Pauls, set to the verse of poet Ojārs Vācietis; and Parādies(i) tu, Saulīte (Come out, the Sun), by Raxtu Raxti folk music group. The choir’s art director is Rūdolfs Bērtiņš, and its conductor – Didzis Soste.