Latvia’s new ambassador to the United Kingdom, Atis Lots, has told the LETA News Agency that Latvia and the UK should focus more on co-operation in the areas of security and defence.
Lots says that at a time when the world order is changing rapidly, particularly in the wake of Russia’s full-scale aggression in Ukraine, countries must focus on security and defence co-operation both militarily and by strengthening bilateral political dialogue and exchanges between officials and parliamentarians.
“Latvia needs to promote sustained British interest in engagement in the Baltic region, as well as further dialogue between the EU and the UK,” says the diplomat.
Mr Lots cites three main priorities as he starts his new job – strengthening the security of Latvia and the Baltic region, supporting Latvian businesspeople in the UK, and encouraging British investors to invest in the Latvian economy. The ambassador will also work on ways of supporting Latvians in the UK.
“These are the most important areas of the work of the Latvian embassy in London – our largest bilateral diplomatic mission in terms of staff members,” Lots adds.
The ambassador went on to say that Latvia and the UK share very similar views about security challenges and how they should be addressed. Of paramount importance is Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and the way in which this impacts NATO’s security, particularly along the eastern flank of the alliance.
“We can be proud that Latvia joins with the United Kingdom and 14 other partner countries to organise the drone coalition which provides much-needed unmanned aerial vehicles for Ukraine’s defence,” Lots explains. “This is also a chance to develop and use the technologies and products of our own defence industry enterprises.” The ambassador adds that Latvia’s participation in the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) with 10 partner countries is focused on rapid response capabilities, including in Northern Europe and the Baltic region. This, he says, is of equal importance.
Ambassador Lots insists that the UK is an important NATO member state with full military and intelligence capabilities, not least in terms of being one of the alliance’s nuclear powers. The UK also has a technologically advanced defence industry that is and will remain useful in developing Latvia’s defence capabilities:
“There have historically been close British ties and dialogue with the United States when it comes to Latvia’s security and Transatlantic unity. It is also important for Latvia to promote EU-British co-operation in the field of security and defence policy.”
When it comes to economic relations, Ambassador Lots says that the Latvian embassy and the Latvian Agency for Investment and Development (LIAA) should do everything possible to allow Latvian businesses to take advantage of the UK’s economic and trade potential, as well as to encourage British investors to prepare long-term investment plans in the Latvian economy. Mr Lots points out that the UK is already one of Latvia’s largest foreign trade partners with annual turnover of more than EUR 1 billion. He notes that Latvian timber products have traditionally been of great importance in the British market.
“We need to strive to maintain this potential whilst also look at how to export goods to Latvia with high added value,” says the ambassador.
Mr Lots is also calling for greater co-operation between institutions of higher education in Latvia and the United Kingdom in the area of studies and research. He points out that the UK is known for the quality of its universities, and “I would like to stress the importance of student and faculty exchange programmes, as well as to encourage representatives of the Latvian diaspora who have received a higher education in the UK to bring their acquired knowledge to bear in the interests of Latvia.”
Lots also told LETA that the embassy will continue to focus on the needs of Latvians in the UK – at least 144,000 of them are resident there. This makes Britain the most important country in terms of the Latvian diaspora.
Latvia’s Foreign Ministry reports that there are at least 95 official and unofficial Latvian organisations in the UK, including associations, religious congregations, schools, folklore groups, choirs, dance groups, charities and sports clubs, Lots said at the conclusion of the interview.
Source: BNS
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