By Daspina Hasanova
BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 5. Latvian Foreign
Minister Baiba Bra啪e completed a productive working visit to the
Czech Republic on July 3鈥4, where she met with high-level Czech
officials and discussed security, defense, economic cooperation,
and cultural ties, Trend reports.
During her visit, Minister Bra啪e held meetings with Czech
Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsk媒, Minister for European Affairs Martin
Dvo艡谩k, and Commander of the Czech Armed Forces Karel 艠ehka. She
also met with Petr Novotn媒, CEO of 艩koda Group, and engaged with
academic staff and students studying Latvian at Charles University
in Prague and Masaryk University in Brno.
鈥淭he Czech Republic is a close and reliable ally of Latvia,鈥
said Minister Bra啪e. 鈥淲e deeply appreciate its military
contribution to NATO鈥檚 presence in 膧da啪i and its active role in
Baltic airspace defense. Together, we continue to support Ukraine
and strengthen the security of our region through initiatives like
the Drone Coalition and broader European defense cooperation.鈥
Strengthening Security and Defense
Cooperation:
The ministers positively assessed the outcomes of the recent
NATO summit in The Hague, particularly the landmark agreement to
allocate 5% of national GDP to defense, the continued commitment to
NATO鈥檚 Article 5, and joint support measures for Ukraine.
Discussions also focused on the importance of accelerating
Europe鈥檚 defense industry development, which not only enhances
security but also drives economic growth, innovation, and job
creation. Both sides agreed on the importance of reinforcing the
EU鈥檚 external borders, advancing the EU enlargement process, and
aligning priorities for the next EU Multiannual Financial
Expanding Economic Partnerships:
Minister Bra啪e and her Czech counterparts expressed strong
interest in deepening bilateral economic cooperation, with a
particular focus on high-value-added industries, tourism, and space
exploration.
During her meeting with 艩koda CEO Petr Novotn媒, discussions
centered on new collaboration opportunities in the transport
sector. Increasing numbers of regular flights and rising interest
in Riga as a travel destination are expected to fuel further
economic growth and tourism exchange.
Promoting Language and Cultural Ties:
Minister Bra啪e also met with students and faculty involved in
Latvian language studies at leading Czech universities. Currently,
over 20 students are enrolled in Latvian language programs,
highlighting strong educational ties between the two nations.
Latvia and the Czech Republic maintain active cultural and
educational cooperation, fostering deeper connections between their