On 19 June, President Edgars Rinkēvičs, met with the President of the Republic of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides, who is on an official visit to Latvia. During the visit, the two Heads of State discussed bilateral relations, regional security, including Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East, as well as issues currently on the agenda of the European Union (EU) and cooperation within international organisations.
The President of Latvia commended the excellent bilateral relations between Latvia and Cyprus and affirmed Latvia’s readiness to work closely with Cyprus during its Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the first half of 2026. The discussion also touched upon the priorities of the Cypriot Presidency, with President Rinkēvičs particularly emphasising the importance of strengthening defence and security, including in the context of the next EU multiannual budget.
The two Presidents discussed regional security, exchanging views on Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East. The President of Latvia emphasised the importance of comprehensive support for Ukraine and acknowledged Cyprus's contribution to Ukraine’s efforts in countering the aggressor. “It is essential to continue providing military and financial support to strengthen Ukraine in its fight against the aggressor. At the same time, sanctions against Russia must be intensified to limit its ability to continue the war against Ukraine. It is particularly important to target Russia’s ‘shadow fleet’, which helps finance the Russian war machine and poses a threat to the security and environment of the Baltic Sea,” said President Rinkēvičs.
When discussing the situation in the Middle East, the President of Latvia articulated Latvia’s position that Iran must not be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons and that a unified EU stance is necessary. President Rinkēvičs also noted the geographic proximity of Cyprus, and thus the European Union, to the conflict in the Middle East. “Iran must not acquire nuclear weapons, and the European Union must continue to impose sanctions on Iran. The EU needs a unified position and must focus on measures that can help de-escalate the conflict. This is a conflict taking place near the external borders of the European Union, with Iranian missile attacks on Israel observed from Cypriot territory. If the escalation in the Middle East continues, it will affect us all,” said President Rinkēvičs.
