US-Latvia cooperation agenda is deemed 'favorable' by Braze
Rewritten Article:
Latvia's ties with the United States remain robust, and the cooperation agenda continues to show a positive trajectory, as revealed by Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže in a conversation on Latvian Television this morning.
During a gathering of Baltic foreign ministers with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Braze shared that the US sought to understand our viewpoint on the regional situation. The meeting centered on securing priorities in the domain of security.
According to Braze, the US is keen on preventing the European Union from excluding them from military acquisitions. They're also intrigued by the energy sector, but Latvia advocates for deals that prioritize cost-effectiveness and long-term supply, ensuring decisions are benefit-driven.
When asked about any shifts in Latvia-US relationships under Donald Trump's new presidency, Braze noted that the new US administration appreciates Latvia for being strong allies.
Regarding Russia's ongoing conflict with Ukraine and the initiated peace talks led by Trump, Braze expressed optimism about eventual peace, though the specifics remain uncertain. She chose to abstain from speculating on potential future scenarios of the peace talks.
Braze reiterated that Latvia supports the process being accompanied by a restriction of Russia's capabilities through continued sanctions. In Ukraine, she urged for troop withdrawal from the conflict zone, with consistent monitoring of adherence to peace terms not compromising Ukraine's military potential.
In her opinion, Russia has yet to demonstrate a genuine interest in lasting peace, which encourages Braze to believe that the US will eventually need to take "necessary steps" to foster peace.
Analyzing Latvia's current priorities in relations with the US, we see a focus on strategic defense partnerships, defense industry expansion, and energy/tech sector collaborations:
- Policy alignment: Braže has consistently underscored "unwavering cooperation" with the US, given the security threats from Russia[1].
- Defense grants: The US allocated $228 million in 2024 for Baltic defense capabilities, demonstrating ongoing commitment to the region's safety[1].
- Local defense industry growth: Latvia aims to involve domestic companies in 30% of military contracts and double defense industry turnover to €1.3 billion[3].
- US-Latvia defense tech partnership: The US delegation visited Ādaži Military Base and LMT, a telecom firm partnering with Latvia's military on defense technology solutions[1].
- Economic cooperation: Deputy Secretary Ivars Lasis has highlighted energy and technology as crucial areas for deepening ties between Latvia and the US[1].
- ** Business engagement**: Foreign Minister Braže emphasized the need for involving business representatives in bilateral visits to foster sector-specific partnerships, particularly in energy[3].
These priorities reflect Latvia's dual strategy of strengthening hard security through NATO/US collaboration and building economic resilience via tech-driven defense and energy investments[1][3].
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged Latvia's stance on war-and-conflicts, specifically the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, during a meeting with Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže.
- In general-news, the energy sector and its associated price fluctuations have piqued the interest of the US, with Latvia advocating for cost-effective and long-term energy supply deals.
- Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže emphasized the need for strong policy-and-legislation to prevent the European Union from excluding the US from military acquisitions, asserting that this would undoubtedly weaken the region's security.
- In the realm of politics, the ongoing peace talks led by President Donald Trump concerning Russia's conflict with Ukraine have instilled optimism in Braze, though she refrained from predicting specific outcomes.
- To maintain energy independence and bolster economic resilience, Latvia aims to increase its domestic companies' involvement in defense and energy sector contracts, as discussed during the meeting between Rubio and Braze.
