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On 7–8 May 2026, consultations between the political directors of the Baltic States’ and Canada’s foreign ministries took place in Riga. The Latvian delegation was led by the Under-Secretary of State, Political Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ivars Lasis.
During the consultations, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Canada reaffirmed their close cooperation and shared understanding of current security challenges. Latvia and the other Baltic states highly appreciated Canada’s contribution to leading the NATO Multinational Brigade in Latvia, emphasising Canada’s significant role in strengthening the security of the Baltic region and the Alliance as a whole.
The parties discussed Euro-Atlantic security and deterrence issues, including Allied unity, burden-sharing and NATO’s eastern flank priorities, in preparation for the 2026 NATO Summit. Participants also discussed EU–Canada cooperation, as well as developments in the Arctic region.
The consultations focused in particular on Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. Participants emphasised the need to maintain comprehensive support for Ukraine and agreed that long-term assistance to Ukraine is essential for both European and global security. Joint efforts to contain and deter Russia must continue through discussions on sanctions policy, strengthening energy security and resilience against hybrid threats. The parties emphasised the need to continue close coordination in order to respond effectively to the security challenges posed by Russia.
During the visit, Latvia and Canada also held bilateral political consultations. The parties discussed cooperation in the fields of security, defence and the economy, as well as Canada’s presence in Latvia.