The consultations reflect the intense Poland-Latvia relationship. The ministers discussed preparations ahead of the Washington NATO summit and the development of further bilateral and multilateral cooperation to strengthen security and support for Ukraine. The visit was also an opportunity to discuss the outcome of recent high-level meetings worldwide, among others the Peace Summit in Switzerland and the ministerial meeting of the Council of Baltic Sea States in Porvoo, Finland.

While discussing support for Ukraine, the ministers focused on its accession path to the European Union and NATO, as well as on military assistance for the country and its reconstruction. Poland and Latvia expressed their appreciation for the mutual efforts made in this regard to date and declared their unwavering resolve to continue them.

Minister Sikorski reaffirmed the willingness to maintain Poland’s military presence in Latvia and readiness for close regional cooperation to jointly counter threats from Russia and Belarus, including hybrid attacks on the EU’s eastern borders. The two sides agreed on the need to continue work on extending the sanctions policy against the aggressors.

Also raised were bilateral issues, primarily the Latvian side’s guaranteeing the continued operation of Polish schools in the country.

 

***

The visit featured a symbolic handover of the presidency of the National Coordinators Group of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (SUERMB), which will last from July 2024 to June 2025. Launched in 2009 as the first of four macro-regional strategies implemented in the EU area, the Group is composed of eight EU member states bordering the Baltic Sea (Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Sweden). Cooperation within SUERMB is based on three main thematic pillars: Save the Sea, Connect the Region, and Increase Prosperity.

The consultations reflect the intense Poland-Latvia relationship. The ministers discussed preparations ahead of the Washington NATO summit and the development of further bilateral and multilateral cooperation to strengthen security and support for Ukraine. The visit was also an opportunity to discuss the outcome of recent high-level meetings worldwide, among others the Peace Summit in Switzerland and the ministerial meeting of the Council of Baltic Sea States in Porvoo, Finland.

While discussing support for Ukraine, the ministers focused on its accession path to the European Union and NATO, as well as on military assistance for the country and its reconstruction. Poland and Latvia expressed their appreciation for the mutual efforts made in this regard to date and declared their unwavering resolve to continue them.

Minister Sikorski reaffirmed the willingness to maintain Poland’s military presence in Latvia and readiness for close regional cooperation to jointly counter threats from Russia and Belarus, including hybrid attacks on the EU’s eastern borders. The two sides agreed on the need to continue work on extending the sanctions policy against the aggressors.

Also raised were bilateral issues, primarily the Latvian side’s guaranteeing the continued operation of Polish schools in the country.

 

***

The visit featured a symbolic handover of the presidency of the National Coordinators Group of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (SUERMB), which will last from July 2024 to June 2025. Launched in 2009 as the first of four macro-regional strategies implemented in the EU area, the Group is composed of eight EU member states bordering the Baltic Sea (Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Sweden). Cooperation within SUERMB is based on three main thematic pillars: Save the Sea, Connect the Region, and Increase Prosperity.

 

Photo: Sebastian Indra/MSZ