By Daspina Hasanova
BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 3. A delegation of U.S.
Congressional staff visited Latvia from July 1 through 3, 2025, as
part of a broader tour of the Baltic States and held talks to
strengthen the strategic partnership between countries, Trend reports.
The negotiations focused on defense, economic cooperation, and
regional security issues.
On July 1, State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
And啪ejs Vi募umsons met with the delegation to discuss key areas of
Latvian鈥揢.S. cooperation. Topics included defense industry
collaboration, innovation, energy, and the shared commitment to
regional stability.
Vi募umsons underscored the importance of the close partnership
between Latvia and the United States and expressed gratitude for
consistent U.S. support for Latvia鈥檚 security. 鈥淲e value our strong
defense ties and are equally committed to expanding our economic
dialogue, particularly in emerging sectors like technology and
energy,鈥 he said.
The delegation also met with Ivars Lasis, Under-Secretary of
State and Political Director at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to
discuss the long-term priorities of Latvian鈥揢.S. collaboration,
especially in defense and national security.
Further discussions on regional and global security challenges
took place with Ilze Milta, National Security Adviser to the
President, and Edv墨ns Severs, Foreign Affairs Adviser. The parties
also reviewed the outcomes of the recent NATO Summit in The Hague
and Latvia鈥檚 contributions to regional defense efforts.
A separate session with J膩nis S膩rts, Director of the NATO
Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence, focused on
countering disinformation and strengthening the information
In addition to high-level meetings, the delegation visited the
Museum of the Occupation of Latvia, gaining historical context on
Latvia鈥檚 resilience and strategic importance.
Their program also includes a visit to 膧da啪i military base to
meet with U.S. troops stationed in Latvia, as well as a tour of
Edge Autonomy, a Latvian company specializing in unmanned aerial
vehicles. Meetings are also scheduled with members of the Saeima
(Parliament), officials from the Prime Minister鈥檚 Office, and the
Ministry of Defence.