H.E. Juris Pēkalis
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Latvia to the Republic of Estonia
Biography
Graduated from the University of Latvia with a Master’s degree in Law. Joined the Foreign Service of Latvia in 1996. Before moving to Estonia, served as Director General for Security Policy and International Organisations at the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Prior to that, he served as Foreign Policy Advisor to the Speaker of the Saeima (Parliament). Throughout his career, he has held various posts in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: international law expert; Head of the Human Rights Division; Director for Europe; Director of the Second Bilateral Relations Department (Americas, Asia, Africa); and Chief of Staff of the State Secretary.
He was posted to the Latvian Permanent Delegation to NATO from 2011 to 2014 and twice to the Latvian Embassy in Washington, DC: as Deputy Chief of Mission from 2018 to 2022, an as policy adviser in 2004 to 2007. In 2001, he served as a seconded advisor to the Commissioner for Democratic Development of the Council of the Baltic Sea States in Copenhagen.
Married, with two children.