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On 10 January 2026, the Ambassador of Latvia to the Sovereign Order of Malta, Māris Selga, presented his credentials to His Most Eminent Highness the Prince and Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta, Fra’ John Dunlap.
During his conversation with the Prince and Grand Master J. Dunlap, Ambassador Māris Selga highlighted the Order of Malta’s global contribution to humanitarian, social, and medical aid. The Ambassador expressed gratitude to the Order of Malta for providing assistance to Ukrainian citizens both in Ukraine and abroad, including assistance to Ukrainian refugees in Latvia. During the accreditation visit, Ambassador Māris Selga met with Ambassador Giampaolo Cantini – Secretary General of Foreign Affairs of the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta. During the meeting, officials discussed the regional and global security situation, as well as Latvia’s work in the UN Security Council that began on 1 January this year. Ambassador Māris Selga emphasised that Latvia would work in the UN Security Council to help achieve a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, the Middle East, and other conflict regions, strengthen global security, protect the international rules-based order in accordance with the UN Charter, as well as improve the work of the UN Security Council.
Ambassador Māris Selga will reside in Rīga.
Background information
Māris Selga has been Under-Secretary of State – Director of Administration of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs since September 2024. Since 6 December 2025, Māris Selga is the Ambassador of the Republic of Latvia to the Holy See. He began his career in the Foreign Service in 1994 in the Planning Group. Māris Selga has worked in the Ministry’s central office in Rīga, as well as in Latvian diplomatic missions abroad. From 2019 to 2024, Māris Selga was the Ambassador of Latvia to the United States, he was the Ambassador of Latvia to the People’s Republic of China from 2016 to 2019, and the Ambassador of Latvia to the Arab Republic of Egypt from 2008 to 2012. He has been Non-Resident Ambassador to the United Mexican States, Mongolia, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, the United Arab Emirates, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, as well as the Official Observer of the Republic of Latvia to the African Union and the Representative of the Republic of Latvia to the League of Arab States and the Organization of American States. Māris Selga has been awarded the Second Class Cross of Recognition.
Latvia and the Sovereign Order of Malta established diplomatic relations on 15 August 1995. Today, the Sovereign Order of Malta is an important humanitarian aid organisation of the Roman Catholic Church and is also a subject of international law with the right to establish diplomatic relations and conclude treaties. The Sovereign Order of Malta also currently holds observer status in several international organisations. The Order has rapidly expanded its diplomatic relations with other countries, particularly over the past ten years. At present, the Order has established diplomatic relations with 113 countries around the world.