On 31 January 2023, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia, Edgars Rinkēvičs, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia, Urmas Reinsalu, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, Gabrielius Landsbergis, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland, Zbigniew Rau, had a meeting in Riga, at which they discussed matters of current importance for security and defence in the region and support for Ukraine. The Foreign Ministers signed a Joint Declaration on enhancing cooperation between Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland in the region.
During the meeting, Edgars Rinkēvičs voiced a position on the need to further intensify cooperation between the Baltic States and Poland in the matters of foreign policy, defence, border security, strengthening energy independence, transport and infrastructure. A tangible progress with the implementation of the Madrid summit decisions should be achieved before Vilnius summit, the Latvian Foreign Minister noted. In that context, it is important that the Baltic States present a united stance and coordinate their positions. Latvia continues making substantial contributions to its defence capabilities as well as providing host country support to the Allies, Edgars Rinkēvičs said.
The Latvian Foreign Minister expressed his conviction that it was crucial to continue military and other kind of support for Ukraine both bilaterally and in the framework of NATO.
The Baltic and Polish Foreign Ministers signed a joint declaration, in which it was underlined that Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland shared a close vision on the actions necessary to deter and defend against security threats in the region.
“Together we have elaborated initiatives aimed at fighting against hybrid threats, ensuring deterrence and defence, strengthening border security, as well as supporting Ukraine that have later been successfully implemented in various forms and frameworks including the European Union, NATO and the United Nations. We reiterate the high importance of continuing political, military, financial support and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine. Cooperation within NATO, with an irreplaceable role of the close transatlantic bond, is the cornerstone of our security,” the Declaration reads.
For a full text of the Declaration, see: