Edgars Rinkēvičs

Minister of Foreign Affairs

+371 67016201

minsek [at] mfa.gov.lv

Date of birth: 21 September 1973
Ethnicity: Latvian
Nationality: Republic of Latvia

1999 - 2000 U.S. National Defence University, Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Master’s Degree (MS) in National Resource Strategy
1995 - 1997 University of Latvia, Master’s degree in Political Science
1994 - 1995 Groningen University (The Netherlands), Political Sciences and International Relations Studies (certificate)
1991 - 1995 University of Latvia, Faculty of History and Philosophy, Bachelor’s degree

Since 25 October 2011 Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia
10/2008 - 07/2011 Chancery of the President of Latvia, Head of the Chancery
08/1997 - 10/2008 Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Latvia, Secretary of State
2005 - 01/2007 Office for organising the NATO Summit of Heads of State and Government, Chief of Staff
2002 - 2003 Deputy Head of the Latvian delegation for accession negotiations with NATO
05/1997 - 08/1997 Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Latvia, Acting Secretary of State
09/1996 - 05/1997 Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Latvia, Under Secretary of State for Defence Policy Matters
03/1996 - 09/1996 Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Latvia, Policy Department, Director
1995 - 03/1996 Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Latvia, Policy Department, Senior Desk Officer
1993 - 1994 Latvijas Radio, Journalist, foreign policy and international relations topics

2013 Commander, First Class, of the Order of the Lion of Finland
2007 Grand Officer of the Order of Three Stars
2007 NATO award For Meritorious Service
2006 The Order of Orange-Nassau, the Kingdom of Netherlands
2005 The Order of Merit, the Republic of Estonia
2005 The Order of Merit, the Italian Republic
2005 Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland
2004 Commander of the Great Cross of the Order of Viesturs
2004 Republic of Latvia Minister of Defence Award - Commemorative Medal for Advancing Latvia's Accession to NATO
2000 Republic of Latvia Minister of Defence Award - Medal of Honourable Merit for Contribution to Armed Forces Development