Rinkēvičs: Poland's participation in the G20 summit will strengthen the voice of the Baltic region 0 6

At a press conference, the President of Latvia stated that the bilateral relations between Poland and Latvia are outstanding, and cooperation in politics, culture, economy, energy, transport, and security issues is at a high level.

Rinkēvičs thanked Poland and the Polish military serving at the Ādaži base as part of the multinational NATO brigade for their long and significant work in strengthening Latvia's security. The President of Latvia noted that at the meeting, the parties also discussed further development of economic cooperation, including the "Three Seas" initiative, with a particular focus on energy, transport, and technology.

He expressed satisfaction that Poland has been invited to participate in the G20 meeting. According to the President of Latvia, this will be the first time a country from the Baltic Sea region is represented in this format. The parties agreed that Poland would advocate its position while also addressing important issues for Latvia, including cooperation within the "Three Seas" initiative and dialogue with G20 countries, including the USA.

Rinkēvičs thanked Poland for its support in the process of disconnecting the Baltic States from the electricity grids of Russia and Belarus and synchronizing them with European networks, completed in February of this year. He noted that defense and security issues were discussed at the meeting, including strengthening the eastern flank and cooperation with the USA and European partners.

The President of Latvia emphasized that formats such as NATO missions "Baltic Guardian" and "Eastern Guardian" strengthen security in the maritime and airspace. He also reminded that the Baltic States and Poland allocate 5% of their gross domestic product for defense, which, in his opinion, allows them to serve as a bridge in strengthening transatlantic relations.

The top officials of the two countries also discussed hybrid attacks on the borders with Belarus and the work of the European Union in the field of migration. Additionally, they touched upon support for Ukraine in military and economic spheres and noted international efforts to achieve long-term peace. At the same time, Rinkēvičs emphasized that the Russian side is currently not demonstrating readiness for any form of settlement.

During the conversation, attention was paid to the Polish community residing in Latvia, and programs in the field of education and public media were discussed. Rinkēvičs confirmed that Poles living in the country are an integral part of Latvian society and thanked Poland for supporting schools and kindergartens in Riga, Daugavpils, and Rēzekne.