I am honoured to be part of the opening of the Riga Conference 2025.
This event remains one the most important annual conferences on foreign and security policy.
It is a forum where we can find solutions to our region’s challenges.
I would like to thank the team for organizing it and keeping the quality of discussions and participants high-level.
The fundamental goal of Latvia’s foreign and security policy has been the same since Latvia regained independence.
We are fully integrating ourselves in the Western world.
Latvian interests,
values,
security
and development
are aligned with modern, democratic and forward-looking part of the world.
The message is simple:
Latvia stands together with its friends and allies:
stronger,
safer, and
more united than ever.
We do not face threats alone.
We shape our future together.
This kind of strategic clarity is grounded in three factors:
Latvia’s historic experience,
geographic location
and confidence in Latvia’s future.
I am enormously proud of Latvians.
We are fast learners and sharp thinkers.
We are able to adapt and act fast.
That is our advantage – as a smaller country we can make real difference faster.
With courage, vision, and determination, we are building our future today.
In two years, since this government took office,
Latvia has become more secure,
more independent,
connected,
resilient,
more competitive,
more inclusive.
This government has taken bold steps to make a difference,
despite so many and difficult challenges,
also created by Russia and its war of aggression against Ukraine.
Latvia is more secure.
In 2023, Latvian defence budget was 2.23% of our GDP.
Today it is 3.8%, reaching 5% next year.
Latvia makes our national as well allied partners deterrence and defence stronger.
We invest in our defence capabilities – in both equipment and personnel.
We have made bold steps in developing national defence industry starting from almost nothing.
Recently, we signed an MoU with Rheinmetall aiming to establish a munition production line in Latvia.
We invest in security of EU and NATO, but with a special responsibility to external border with Belarus and Russia.
Europe as a whole must take the next step:
we must build stronger and more integrated industries
to become more competitive
and resilient in the world.
Especially if we talk about the defense industry that unites our capacities and encourages innovation.
Too often, our progress is slowed by fragmented markets and overlapping systems.
We cannot afford that anymore –
we must act together.
We have the key to financial resources, and those resources must be mobilized.
We must turn Europe’s savings into Europe’s security.
We, the European leaders, must act as partners, as allies, as co-creators of a European industrial strength.
We are already building theses bridges.
We have had many discussions on the EU level about developing industries together.
We must aim for a borderless European defence industry: open, collaborative, and competitive globally.
I am happy to see how far we have progressed, but more needs to be done – faster, in close coordination with regional partners and Ukraine which has developed crucial experience and knowledge.
Part of it is to develop drone and anti-drone capabilities to increase security of our airspace.
That is my top priority as the Prime Minister of Latvia – that our people are safe.
And people are safe because the governments are ensuring actual results, and our people have hope for better future.
Latvia is more independent.
In February this year, Latvian energy sector disconnected from BRELL – the electricity grid connected to Russia and Belarus.
Instead, we fully joined the electricity grid of continental Europe.
Even before that, we stopped buying Russian gas.
Now 75% of our LNG imports come from the US.
Energy prices are steady, with a tendency to decline.
Our goal remains to produce more electricity and to become a net exporter of energy.
Latvia is more connected.
We continue to develop Latvian transport sector connectivity with other parts of Europe.
The German aviation giant “Lufthansa” invested in our airBaltic.
Despite some challenges of governance, funding, as well as regional cooperation, Rail Baltica is well on track. It is a large and complicated project, but it is very important to us.
It is also crucial for our military mobility.
Latvia is more resilient.
Latvians have always been strong and capable of surviving and even thriving through difficult times.
Today, Latvian society is more aware of different kinds of threats, including hybrid ones.
We as a society know the tactics of our enemies, and we want to be and we are prepared.
At the same time, we are constantly improving.
We are strengthening our cyber and information space.
We continue building the whole society approach to our security, linking all stake-holders and different phases of crises management.
We have seen how resilience of democratic systems has been constantly tested.
Most recently during the parliamentary elections in Moldova.
Despite enormous pressure, Moldova successfully held transparent and credible elections.
We shared our knowledge and expertise in preparatory process. Now, Moldova has the experience to share with all of us.
Latvia is more competitive.
In the last two years, my government has focused on strengthening our economy and making it easier to grow and invest.
Now, Latvian banks give more loans to both companies and individuals.
Our real estate market is developing faster, with Riga overtaking Tallinn in development and purchases of new homes.
We have second most competitive tax system, and we continue to reduce bureaucracy both nationally and on EU level.
Our goal is to create an economy that supports innovation, industry, and strategic investment, especially in high-tech and defence sectors.
This is how we position Latvia and Europe for the next decade – as leaders in technology and defence industry
We already have so much to be proud of.
Latvia is a digital country. More than 90% of public services are available online.
You can start a company completely online, without ever leaving your office.
We have established a National centre for Artificial Intelligence, and we see AI as a crucial part of Europe’s future
To conclude,
Latvia and Europe must look forward:
to a future where security, innovation, and collaboration define our continent.
We must act boldly, invest wisely, and build together a Europe that can defend itself, compete globally, and lead in technology and sustainability.
Latvia stands confident and forward-looking.
We will continue to support Ukraine with allocation of 0,25% of our GDP.
The Latvian voice, and the European voice, must be louder, smarter, and more credible than ever before.
We must use it to build a safer, stronger, and more united Europe with Ukraine and Moldova as part of it.
I wish all of you good discussions and many worthy takeaways from this conference.
Thank you!