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The Minister of Foreign Affairs congratulates US Representative Don Bacon on being awarded the Order of the Three Stars by President Edgars Rinkēvičs and expresses gratitude for his long-standing and principled work in strengthening the security of Latvia and the Baltic states. The award ceremony took place on 27 May 2026 at Riga Castle.
The state award was granted in recognition of Congressman Don Bacon’s significant contribution to safeguarding the security interests of Latvia and the Baltic states.
Since 2021, Congressman Bacon has been the co-chair of the House Baltic Caucus in the US House of Representatives. Under his leadership, the caucus has gained widespread visibility, becoming one of the fastest-growing caucuses in the House of Representatives, currently uniting 137 members of Congress from both political parties.
Congressman Bacon’s active engagement has also been instrumental in the inclusion of the Baltic Security Initiative into the US National Defense Authorization Act for 2026, reaffirming the shared commitment of the United States and the Baltic states to strengthening defence cooperation and the security of the NATO alliance. The initiative provides funding to strengthen the defence capabilities of the Baltic states, improve military interoperability, and develop security infrastructure.
The Order of the Three Stars is Latvia’s highest state award for outstanding service to the nation. Latvia highly values Congressman Bacon’s contribution to strengthening transatlantic security and the United States’ consistent support for the Baltic region.
A delegation of members of the US House of Representatives is visiting Riga from 26 to 29 May to meet with Latvia’s senior officials and participate in several defence and innovation events, including the Drone Summit in Riga and activities at the Sēlija military training ground.
