On 2 July, President Edgars Rinkēvičs met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Israel, Gideon Moshe Sa’ar, at the Jūrmala residence, during the minister’s working visit to all three Baltic States. The discussions focused on the regional security situation in the Middle East and Europe, the prospects for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, and the active bilateral political dialogue between the two countries.
President Rinkēvičs welcomed the recently concluded ceasefire between Israel and Iran, as well as the support provided by the United States and Qatar in facilitating the agreement. He reiterated Latvia’s position that Iran must not be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons, and emphasised the need for Iran to fully cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency in order to promote nuclear safety in the region. At the same time, the President underlined that Latvia will continue to support and advocate for the European Union’s sanctions against Iran.
The President of Latvia reaffirmed his solidarity with the people of Israel and condemned the terrorist attacks against Israel and its citizens. “We continue to support Israel’s right to self-defence in accordance with international law and international humanitarian law. It is essential to prevent civilian casualties. Every effort must be made to ensure the immediate release of all hostages, as well as to facilitate the safe and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip,” said E. Rinkēvičs.
The President also emphasised the significance of supporting Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression. “Support for Ukraine is vital both for strengthening European security and ensuring global stability. Latvia calls on Israel to increase its support for Ukraine,” Rinkēvičs added.
The parties also discussed the upcoming official visit to Latvia by the President of Israel, Isaac Herzog, scheduled for August 2025. The visit is expected to contribute to the further deepening of bilateral political and economic cooperation, as well as to offer an opportunity to continue dialogue on the security situation in the Middle East and Europe.
