Latvia and the UK should focus on cooperation in security and defense, Latvia’s new Ambassador to the UK, Atis Lots, told LETA.
In his opinion, at a time when the world order is undergoing rapid change, particularly in the wake of Russia’s full-scale aggression in Ukraine, countries should focus on security and defense cooperation – both militarily and by strengthening bilateral political dialogue and exchanges between officials and parliamentarians. “Latvia needs to promote both sustained British interest in engagement in the Baltic region and dialogue between the EU and the UK,” said Lots.
The ambassador indicated that he set three main priorities as he assumed his new post – strengthening the security of Latvia and the Baltic region, supporting Latvian entrepreneurs in the UK and promoting British investors’ interest in investing in the Latvian economy. He will also focus on cooperation and support for Latvians in the UK. “In these areas, the work of the Latvian Embassy in London – the largest bilateral diplomatic mission of Latvia in terms of staff – is of great importance,” the ambassador said.
Lots noted that Latvia and the UK share a very similar views on security challenges and how they should be addressed, first and foremost in the context of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and its impact on the security situation in NATO – in particular in the Alliance’s Eastern flank.
“We can be proud that Latvia, together with the United Kingdom and 14 other partner countries, is forming the drone coalition to provide much-needed unmanned aerial vehicles for Ukraine’s defense. It is also an opportunity to develop and use the technologies and products of our defense industry companies,” said Lots, adding that Latvia’s participation in the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF), which brings together 10 partner countries and is focused on providing a rapid response capability, including with a view to Northern Europe and the Baltic region, is equally important.
The ambassador underlined that the UK is an important NATO member with full military and intelligence capabilities, notably, as one of the Alliance’s nuclear powers. It also has a technologically advanced defense industry, which is and will be useful for the development of Latvia’s defense capabilities, Lots added. “In the context of Latvia’s security and transatlantic unity, there is also the historically close British ties and dialogue with the US. It is also important for Latvia to promote joint EU-British cooperation in the field of security and defense policy,” the ambassador said.
In terms of economic cooperation, Lots believes that the Latvian Embassy in London, together with the Latvian Investment and Development Agency (LIAA), should do everything possible to ensure that Latvian businesses can take advantage of the UK’s economic and trade potential, as well as to promote British investors’ interest in long-term investments in the Latvian economy. He pointed out that the UK is already one of Latvia’s largest foreign trade partners by volume, with an annual turnover of over EUR 1 billion. He noted that Latvian timber producers have traditionally had a strong presence in the UK market. “We need to strive to maintain this potential, while also looking at the export of high value-added goods to Latvia,” the ambassador stressed.
In addition, he believes that Latvian higher education institutions should be encouraged to cooperate with the United Kingdom in the field of studies and research, which, as Lots pointed out, is renowned for its high-level universities. “I would like to stress the importance of student and faculty exchange programs, as well as to encourage representatives of the Latvian diaspora who have received higher education in the UK to use their acquired knowledge for the benefit of Latvia,” Lots said.
Lots also noted that the embassy’s work will continue to focus on the needs of Latvians in the UK. He stresses that the UK, which is home to least 144,000 Latvian nationals, is the most important country in terms of the Latvian diaspora.
According to data available to the Foreign Ministry, there are at least 95 official and unofficial Latvian diaspora organizations in the UK – associations, religious congregations, schools, folklore groups, choirs, dance groups, charities and sports clubs, said Lots.
Source: BNS
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