Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs hosted Czech President Petr Pavel in Riga on Tuesday (10 March) for a state visit focused on defence cooperation, NATO security and support for Ukraine.
Meeting at Riga Castle, the two leaders discussed strengthening bilateral relations, expanding cooperation in the defence industry, and coordinating policy within the European Union and NATO.
Rinkēvičs said Latvia values the Czech Republic’s role in the NATO Multinational Brigade Latvia and welcomed deeper cooperation with Czech defence companies.
Key developments:
• Latvia plans to allocate 4.91% of GDP to defence in 2026, with a proposal to raise spending to at least 5% from 2027.
• Both leaders reaffirmed support for Ukraine and discussed sanctions pressure on Russia.
• The presidents reviewed security developments in the Middle East and prospects for transatlantic relations.
• A Latvian–Czech business forum during the visit aimed to expand trade and defence industry partnerships.
ℹ️ China Daily, Office of the President of Latvia
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