President of Latvia commends Azerbaijan’s significant role in regional security and affirms interest in strengthening the strategic partnership
At the invitation of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, the President of Latvia, Edgars Rinkēvičs, from 21 to 23 April, is paying an official visit to Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, accompanied by a delegation of Latvian entrepreneurs.
During the meeting with the President of Azerbaijan, President E. Rinkēvičs expressed his commitment to strengthening the strategic partnership between Latvia and Azerbaijan by deepening political dialogue and promoting practical cooperation, including in the economic sphere.
“Latvia and Azerbaijan have been strategic partners since 2017. Latvia is interested in strengthening and expanding this partnership. We hope that this official visit and the recent meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission in Shusha will provide fresh impetus for enhancing practical cooperation in priority sectors. I am confident that today’s Latvia–Azerbaijan Business Forum will further promote cooperation between entrepreneurs of both countries, as we see strong potential in the fields of information and communication technologies, agriculture, transport and logistics, forestry, pharmaceuticals, and clean and green technologies. We are also interested in strengthening bilateral trade ties. Latvia can serve as an important gateway for Azerbaijan’s exports to the European Union, particularly to the markets of Northern Europe,” E. Rinkēvičs emphasised during the meeting with the President of Azerbaijan.
The President expressed Latvia’s interest in intensifying cooperation in the field of agriculture, as well as in strengthening the exchange of expertise in agricultural education, for example in the use of drones and other innovative technologies in agriculture.
The parties discussed the peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenia. President Rinkēvičs welcomed the positive momentum in the bilateral dialogue between Azerbaijan and Armenia, which was followed by the initialling of a Peace Agreement in Washington in August 2025. The President of Latvia expressed hope for the agreement’s signing and ratification in the near future, which would mark a historic turning point for the security of the entire region.
The presidents of the two countries exchanged views on the situation in the Middle East and in Ukraine. E. Rinkēvičs expressed gratitude to Azerbaijan for its constructive engagement with the European Union in addressing the risks of sanctions circumvention. “It is essential to continue this cooperation in order to prevent any form of support for Russia’s war efforts and attempts to destabilise the region. It is equally important to continue providing comprehensive support to Ukraine,” stated the President of Latvia.
President Rinkēvičs reiterated his solidarity with the people of Azerbaijan in connection with the tragedy involving an “Azerbaijan Airlines” aircraft caused by Russia in December 2024, as well as the Iranian drone attack on Nakhchivan in March of this year.
During the meeting, the President of Latvia expressed satisfaction with the positive recent developments in relations between European Union and Azerbaijan, which could also open up new opportunities for bilateral cooperation. “Relations between the European Union and Azerbaijan have significant potential to develop in the coming years, particularly in the fields of energy and connectivity, including by advancing the potential of the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor,” President Rinkēvičs emphasised during the discussions.
During the official visit, the following documents were signed:
- A Declaration of Intent on cooperation in the field of agriculture between the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Latvia.
- A Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs on cooperation in consular matters.
- A Strategic Interinstitutional Action Plan for 2026–2027 between the State Border Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the State Border Guard of the Republic of Latvia.
- A Memorandum of Understanding between the Food Safety Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the State Plant Protection Service of the Republic of Latvia on cooperation in the field of plant health and plant protection.
- An Agreement on cooperation between the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Latvia.
- In addition, during the Latvia–Azerbaijan Business Forum, a Memorandum of Cooperation was signed between the Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Agency AZPROMO.
