Browser not supportedYesterday, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, hosted a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister of Latvia, Krišjānis Kariņš.
The two leaders discussed Canada and Latvia’s close ties and longstanding commitment to transatlantic security as North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Allies. Prime Minister Kariņš thanked Canada for its leadership of NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group in Latvia through Operation REASSURANCE—the Canadian Armed Forces’ contribution to NATO assurance and deterrence measures in Central and Eastern Europe, and to long-term security in the region. Deputy Prime Minister Freeland reaffirmed Canada’s ironclad commitment to NATO and our Allies, including Latvia, and thanked Latvia for its ongoing collaboration in hosting members of the Canadian Armed Forces.
Canada and Latvia are united in their condemnation of Vladimir Putin’s barbaric and illegal invasion of Ukraine, and in their support of the Ukrainian people. The Deputy Prime Minister and Prime Minister agreed on the need to coordinate further responses to support Ukraine, hold President Putin accountable, and further isolate Russia economically. Both leaders expressed deep concern for the broader global impacts of Russia’s invasion, including its effects on energy and food security.
The Deputy Prime Minister and Prime Minister affirmed their commitment to strengthening the partnership between their two countries.