On 18 September 2024, the Ambassador of Latvia Elita Kuzma submitted her letter of credence to the President of the United States of America, Joseph Robinette Biden, Jr., thereby becoming Ambassador of Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Latvia to the United States of America.
The U.S. and Latvia are strategic allies, and Latvia has always attached great importance to the role of the U.S. as a global player and to joint efforts in protecting the rule of law and democratic values.
The Latvian Ambassador Elita Kuzma thanked U.S. President Joseph R. Biden for his personal role and profound understanding of transatlantic security issues and for the international leadership of the U.S. in countering Russia in its war against Ukraine.
The Ambassador conveyed greetings to the U.S. President from the President of Latvia adding that the latter was currently in the State of California to promote economic and bilateral cooperation between the two countries. The U.S. President commended Latvia and noted that the U.S. would continue to cooperate with Latvia to strengthen defence cooperation, and he also emphasised the shared commitment by Latvia and the U.S. to defending every inch of the NATO Member States’ territory. President Biden underlined that Latvia and the U.S., as friends and NATO Allies, were close partners in strengthening resilience and safeguarding peace and security. President Biden spoke positively of what had been accomplished so far in bilateral cooperation between Latvia and the U.S., and he highlighted the increasing cooperation towards bilateral economic growth and development.
President Biden welcomed Ambassador Elita Kuzma’s posting as Latvia’s first woman ambassador to the U.S., while emphasizing the shared values of Latvia and the U.S. in promoting equality and empowerment.
Background information
Elita Kuzma joined the Foreign Service in 1992, taking up a post at the Economic Cooperation Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She has worked at the Western European Division, to later become Director of the First Political Department and Under State Secretary at the First Political Directorate. She has also held the posts of Ambassador – Head of the Economic and Bilateral Relations Directorate, Ambassador – Head of the European Union Directorate, and Head of the State Protocol at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Elita Kuzma has amassed considerable professional experience during her postings to the Latvian embassies abroad. She has served as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Latvia to the Republic of Austria, the Kingdom of Sweden, the Italian Republic, the Federal Republic of Germany, and the Czech Republic, as well as being Permanent Representative of Latvia to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).
Elita has been accredited as non-resident Ambassador to the Republic of Hungary, the Swiss Confederation, the Republic of Slovenia, the Republic of Slovakia, the Principality of Liechtenstein, the Republic of San Marino, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Albania, the State of Kuwait, the Republic of Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as to the Holy See and the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta.
Elita Kuzma has graduated from the Faculty of Finance and Trade of the University of Latvia and the Institute of International Relations of the University of Latvia. She has received further education at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University, in the U.S. and George C. Marshall European Center For Security Studies in Germany.
Official White House Photo by Oliver Contreras