The Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže in a meeting with the Irish Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs and for Defence, Micheál Martin: We welcome Ireland’s support to Ukraine, we support Ukraine’s eurointegration

“We are unanimous that Ukraine’s victory is critical to peace in Europe and that we must continue providing Ukraine with everything it needs to fight against the Russian aggression. We agree that further new EU sanctions should be imposed on Russia and its co-aggressor Belarus, as well as Iran. We strongly support the process of Ukraine’s European integration. Overall, we have a very similar position on key issues on the EU agenda, in the UN and other international organisations,” the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Baiba Braže, underlined after her meeting with the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence of Ireland, Micheál Martin.

The Ministers discussed security in Europe and other regions in the current geopolitical situation, issues of high importance for the European Union, including preparations for talks on the multiannual budget, the future of the single market and EU enlargement, and bilateral relations between Latvia and Ireland. The Foreign Minister is in Ireland on a working visit in 11 and 12 September.

“Ireland is a close partner to Latvia, and our countries have developed close bilateral relations and successful cooperation. We have great potential for further economic cooperation, especially in the technology sector. Ireland is interested in cooperating with Latvia in the fight against hybrid threats, which Latvia has a considerable experience in, taking into account Russia’s regular and increasingly intensive hybrid activities targeting Latvia and other countries, especially in its border area,” says Baiba Braže.

“We welcome the ongoing cooperation between Riga Technical University and Technological University Dublin. We have great potential for joint projects in science, education and culture; in addition, we are also linked by a vast Latvian diaspora in Ireland, which comprises about 25,000 people and is one of the largest Latvian communities abroad,” Baiba Braže added.

Latvia is currently standing as a candidate for an elected member’s seat on the UN Security Council for the term of 2026–2027, which is one of the instruments in pursuit of Latvia’s foreign policy goals. Baiba Braže expressed her thanks for Ireland’s support and experience shared with the Latvian Foreign Service in relation to work in the United Nations Security Council.

In a meeting with Seán Ó Fearghaíl, Speaker of the House of Representatives at the Irish Parliament, Baiba Braže underlined the significant role of parliaments in providing assistance to Ukraine and voiced her hope to welcome a delegation from the Irish Parliament at the Parliamentary Summit of the International Crimea Platform in Riga in October.

In a conversation with Seán Clancy, Chief of Staff of the Irish Defence Forces, Baiba Braže discussed cooperation between the EU and NATO, resilience and UN peacekeeping efforts.

At the Latvian Embassy in Ireland, members of the Latvian diaspora organisations in Ireland gathered for a meeting and a conversation with the Foreign Minister, while a discussion on key issues in Latvia’s internal and foreign policy was also joined by Zanda Grauze, Ambassador-at-Large at the Diaspora Group of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Baiba Braže voiced her gratitude to the Latvian community for preserving their Latvian identity while living abroad and for engaging in political processes; she also urged them to cooperate with the Latvian Embassy in Ireland.

Further information

• Since 27 September 2022, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Latvia to Ireland is Juris Štālmeistars.
• Since 14 March 2022, the Honorary Consul of Latvia in County Dublin is Marie Louise O’Donnell.
• Ireland is home to one of the largest Latvian diasporas: according to the PMLP Register of Natural Persons data, there are 23,593 Latvian nationals residing in Ireland (data as of 01.01.2024).
• Around 48 Latvian diaspora organisations have been established in Ireland: associations, congregations, schools, folklore groups, choirs, dance groups, charities and sports clubs. There is also one Latvian amateur theatre, Sliedes. Of 9 associations, the two largest are the Irish Latvian National Council and the Latvian Society in Ireland. There are also 4 dance groups, 7 diaspora schools, 2 congregations, and 3 choirs.
• A popular diaspora media outlet – baltic-ireland.ie
• Latvia’s candidacy to the United Nations Security Council (2026–2027)

Cover photo: Irish Department of Foreign Affairs