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On 1 April 2026, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Baiba Braže, welcomed the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Singapore, Vivian Balakrishnan, on an official visit. During the meeting, the ministers discussed the development of bilateral cooperation between Latvia and Singapore, particularly in the areas of economy, digital affairs, and security, as well as current global security issues.
“Security in Europe and in the Indo–Pacific region is closely linked, which is why I am very pleased to welcome the Singaporean Foreign Minister to Latvia for the first time,” said Baiba Braže after the meeting, emphasising that “Latvia and Singapore, as small, open economies, are united by a shared interest in a secure and stable international environment and practical cooperation in the fields of trade, technology, and defence.”
Singapore is a major international economic hub and one of the European Union’s key partners in Southeast Asia. It is the second-largest EU trade and investment partner in the region.
Several Latvian companies are already operating in Singapore, offering technological solutions and ICT services, and interest in cooperation continues to grow. Last year, foreign trade turnover with Singapore increased by 23.9%, while Latvian exports to Singapore were 23.2% higher than in 2024. Latvia offers Singaporean companies a platform for operations in the EU market, including as an environment for testing innovations.
On security issues, the ministers discussed Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. Latvia and Singapore stand for a rules-based international order. Latvia welcomes the fact that Singapore has also imposed sanctions against Russia. The ministers also discussed common security challenges in the regions, including maritime security, cybersecurity, and disinformation.
The parties emphasised that the EU–Singapore Free Trade Agreement, as well as the EU–Singapore Digital Trade Agreement, which entered into force on 1 February this year, are important foundations for promoting trade competitiveness.
The official visit of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Singapore to Latvia took place from 31 March to 1 April. This was the first visit by a Singaporean Foreign Minister to Latvia. During the visit, Vivian Balakrishnan also met with President Edgars Rinkēvičs, Prime Minister Evika Siliņa, Deputy Speaker of the Saeima Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica, Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Artjoms Uršuļskis, and visited the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia.