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On 12 September 2025, the town of Alūksne in Latvia hosted a meeting of the Latvian and Estonian Ministries of Foreign Affairs, for coordinating action by the two countries in the matters of regional security and those on the international agenda. The event was co-chaired by the State Secretary of the Foreign Affairs of Latvia, Andžejs Viļumsons, and the Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia, Jonatan Vseviov.
In a discussion on promoting regional security and resilience, the participants highlighted the need to strengthen transatlantic relations, including the presence of the United States in Europe, as well as U.S. support to Ukraine. The officials discussed further measures to constrain Russia, the next round of sanctions being part of those.
The participants exchanged views on cooperation among the three Baltic States and the increasingly close cooperation between the Baltic States and the Nordic countries in the NB8 format, and looked at potential initiatives to strengthen cooperation. In 2026, Estonia will be the coordinating country in the NB8 format, while also holding presidency of the Baltic Council of Ministers and the Baltic Assembly.
The experts then had an exchange on topics high on the European Union agenda, including their interests in planning the EU’s next Multiannual Financial Framework for 2028–2034.
In the context of Latvia being elected to the United Nations Security Council, a discussion took place on the perspectives and interests of the Baltic states in the UN and Latvia’s priorities for its membership of the UN Security Council in 2026–2027. The Estonian colleagues shared their experience of working on the UN Security Council in 2020–2021.
The delegations of the two countries visited the Infantry School of the Latvian National Armed Forces, where they got acquainted with the school’s work and met with instructors and cadets.
The coordination dialogue between the Foreign Ministries is taking place in the follow-up to the joint meeting of the Latvia and Estonian governments hosted by the Estonian side in Tartu this past 27 August. At the meeting, the Cabinets of the two countries agreed on the objectives of further cooperation between Latvia and Estonia in the areas of strengthening the region’s security, connectivity, economy, digital development and skills.