Ambassador Elita Kuzma’s and Defense Attaché Major General Ivo Mogiļnijs Visit to Michigan

On March 26-27, 2025, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Latvia to the United States, Elita Kuzma, Defense Attaché Major General Ivo Mogiļnijs, and Defense Attaché Assistant Staff Sergeant Karina Blaževica visited the state of Michigan. During their visit, they met with the Michigan National Guard and the Latvian diaspora in Kalamazoo.

On the eve of the 32nd anniversary of the partnership between the Latvian National Armed Forces and the Michigan National Guard, the Ambassador and the Defense Attaché visited the Michigan National Guard Joint Headquarters and Air Force Operational Center to discuss successful military cooperation initiatives and further activities within the framework of the 2025 plan. One of the key topics of discussion was the planned participation of Latvian soldiers and National Guard members in the Michigan National Guard’s annual military exercise, Northern Strike 25. The leadership and soldiers of the Michigan National Guard highly appreciate the military and professional training and experience of Latvian soldiers and guardsmen, highlighting their outstanding and significant contribution to the long-term development of the joint defense capabilities of the United States and Latvia. Additionally, opportunities to improve military readiness capabilities in Latvia were discussed. Michigan National Guard engineers, together with Latvian National Guard engineers, are developing the new Selonia training range in Latvia, which covers 62,000 acres and is scheduled for completion by 2030. This will strengthen the training capabilities of NATO forces by providing a collective training complex for joint exercises, which would be a significant step towards future warfighting training in the Baltic region.

During a meeting with representatives of the Latvian diaspora in Kalamazoo, the Ambassador discussed the upcoming 60th anniversary celebration of the Latvian Center Gaŗezers, scheduled for July of this year, as well as the planning of the Song and Dance Festival to be held next year in Grand Rapids, Michigan, including symbolic contributions of the Michigan National Guard and other potential supporters. The Latvian Center Gaŗezers is one of the largest Latvian diaspora centers, and over the past 60 years, four generations of Latvians from the exile community and later the new diaspora have participated in and studied through its educational programs, continuing to preserve and nurture Latvian identity.