On 27 August 2025 in Geneva, Switzerland, during the annual Conference of States Parties of the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) Latvia hosted a seminar presenting Latvia’s experience with the identification of military goods in export control and standing up for an international rules-based order, which is one of Latvia’s priorities on the agenda of the United Nations Security Council. Latvia is taking up a seat on the UNSC as from 1 January 2026.
In his opening statement, the Director of the Legal Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dāvis Baiža, underlined the need to develop a common understanding among arms manufacturers and their responsibility for export control matters on different continents worldwide. The role of arms export controls in achieving comprehensive peace and security objectives was also highlighted. The participants commended Latvia’s experience as a small country. Latvia, being a staunch advocate of international legal order, is prepared to share its experience.
At the seminar, Latvia’s experience was also shared by officials from the Strategic Goods Export Control Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and from the Customs Board of the State Revenues Service. The non-governmental sector was represented by an organisation, Conflict Armament Research, and experts from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). The discussion at the seminar was moderated by the Director of the Latvian Institute of International Affairs, Dr Kārlis Bukovskis.
The seminar focused on transferring experience to export control experts from more remote regions – Africa, Latin America and Central America, as well as Oceania.
The event was implemented as part of the public diplomacy programme in support of the campaign of Latvia’s candidacy for the United Nations Security Council. On 3 June 2025, Latvia was elected to the UNSC for the term from 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2027. Membership of the UNSC will be a key instrument in pursuit of Latvia’s foreign policy interests. The overarching goal of the membership is to protect and strengthen an international environment conducive to Latvia’s security through the use and expanding opportunities offered by multilateral diplomacy.
Background information
The ATT
The Arms Trade Treaty is based on Article 26 of the Charter of the United Nations which seeks to promote the establishment and maintenance of international peace and security and reduce illicit trade in arms. The ATT establishes the highest possible common international standards for the international trade in conventional arms.
The ATT was signed in 2013, and Latvia was one of the signatories. In 2019, Latvia became the first Eastern European country to chair the ATT on a voluntary basis. Latvia is currently represented on the ATT Steering Committee and on the Board of the Voluntary Trust Fund. 116 countries from all continents have already joined the ATT.
