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On 20 February 2026, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Baiba Braže, met with representatives of Latvia’s local governments, the Latvian Association of Large Cities, and the Latvian Association of Local and Regional Governments to discuss regional development, including economic cooperation and local government involvement in international cooperation and development projects, support instruments for entrepreneurs provided by the foreign service, as well as the next EU Multiannual Financial Framework, EU funding attraction, and foreign trade promotion.
The Foreign Minister expressed her gratitude to the local governments for their continued cooperation and for their unwavering support provided to Ukraine.
When addressing the security situation, B. Braže underlined that the presence of allied forces in Latvia and the Baltic region constitutes a vital element of deterrence and defence for the collective security of Latvia, Europe, and NATO. Work continues to expand allied land, air, and naval forces. The opening of the Selonia military training ground today serves as an example of these efforts.
Parliamentary Secretary Artjoms Uršuļskis and representatives of the Ministry also took part in the meeting to discuss opportunities for cooperation in promoting security and resilience, fostering economic growth, enhancing cooperation with third countries, as well as addressing consular matters and strengthening ties with the diaspora.
Representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed local government representatives about the security situation in the region and worldwide, the implementation and practical aspects of EU sanctions, foreign service support for entrepreneurs, the EU Multiannual Financial Framework for 2028–2034, Latvia’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the second half of 2028, the Safe Travel campaign, and issues related to the diaspora and remigration. Appreciation was expressed to local governments for their support to members of the Latvian diaspora returning to Latvia, while also identifying areas where this assistance could be further improved in a targeted manner.
During the talks, representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs underlined the close interconnection between the economy and security, noting that stable economic development cannot be achieved without a secure environment. The Ministry will continue to work actively to strengthen economic activity in priority markets, while opening the door to new cooperation opportunities for entrepreneurs in distant markets. New opportunities for the development of the defence industry were particularly highlighted.
The Ministry representatives explained in detail the service’s ability to provide targeted support to local governments in addressing current issues, with a particular focus on the diplomatic service’s ability to support Latvian entrepreneurs in cooperation with the LIAA and local governments.
At the same time, it was reminded not to travel to Russia and Belarus, which are considered unsafe destinations, as the foreign service’s capacity to provide assistance to individuals who encounter difficulties in those countries is limited.