On 25 February, President Edgars Rinkēvičs paid a state visit to the Republic of Poland, where he met with the President of Poland Andrzej Duda, Marshal of the Sejm Szymon Hołownia, and the Marshal of the Senate Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska. The Presidents of Latvia and Poland took part in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
President Rinkēvičs expressed his gratitude to President Duda for Poland’s cooperation and friendship with Latvia over the past decade of his presidency. “Poland is a key strategic partner and ally of Latvia, playing a crucial role in our region’s security. Poland’s support for Ukraine, especially in the early days of the war, has been truly commendable. I would also like to thank Poland for the presence of its Armed Forces in Latvia as part of the multinational NATO brigade, which significantly strengthens regional security and reaffirms Poland’s role as a reliable ally. This cooperation is a testament to the strong historical ties between our nations and it reinforces our strategic partnership in security,” said President Rinkēvičs.
During his meeting with the senior officials of the Republic of Poland, President of Latvia emphasised the importance of economic cooperation between the two countries. “Poland is our ‘physical gateway’ to Europe. Recently, we successfully disconnected from Russia’s unified energy system and integrated into Europe’s common energy network, a process made possible by our collaboration with Poland. Moreover, Poland is one of Latvia’s key trading partners. Currently, Polish tourists rank fifth among foreign visitors to Latvia. At the same time, Poland remains a popular travel destination for Latvian tourists, supported by multiple air connections to Warsaw, Kraków, Gdańsk, and Rzeszów. Latvia is open to the entry of Polish commercial banks into its market,” said President Rinkēvičs.
The meeting also covered future support for Ukraine and transatlantic relations. President Rinkēvičs emphasised that the issues of Ukraine’s statehood and territorial sovereignty must not be decided without Ukraine and Europe. He emphasised that any long-term peace solution must provide security guarantees for Ukraine to prevent future Russia’s aggression.
President Rinkēvičs also underlined the need for Europe to take greater responsibility for its own security. “We must continue to jointly urge NATO’s European member states to increase their investment in national defence and security. In the coming years, security issues will remain a priority, and close cooperation and coordination between the Baltic States and Poland will be crucial. This also includes strengthening the European Union’s Eastern border, including through cooperation with the Baltic States and Finland, tackling illegal migration, and addressing various threats in the Baltic Sea and the wider region,” said E. Rinkēvičs.
