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On Friday, 31 July 2026, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Baiba Braže, met with the Ambassador of Canada to Latvia, Brian Szwarc, on his farewell visit. The Minister thanked the Ambassador for Canada’s contribution to NATO’s Multinational Division North and for his personal efforts to strengthen the close relationship between Latvia and Canada, emphasising that Canada is one of Latvia’s closest allies and strategic partners.
Discussing the security situation in the region, Baiba Braže highly commended Canada’s leadership of the NATO Multinational Brigade in Latvia and its long-term contribution to strengthening the security of Latvia, the Baltic States, and the entire Alliance. The Minister emphasised that Latvia welcomes Canada’s decision to extend its military presence in Latvia until 2031 and with Canada’s official confirmation of its participation in NATO’s Multinational Division North, becoming the third framework nation alongside Denmark and Latvia.
Both Latvia and Canada agree on the need to continue unwavering support for Ukraine and to maintain pressure on Russia. The discussion also covered the future development of bilateral cooperation between Latvia and Canada, including in the areas of security and defence, as well as the economy and investment.
In closing, the Foreign Minister thanked the Ambassador for the successful cooperation during his tenure and wished him every success in his future professional endeavours.
