Latvian president covers transatlantic waterfront at Luncheon

President Raimonds Vejonis of Latvia, noting Russian actions, told an Oct. 2 Luncheon audience that Latvia is thankful for the U.S.role in the Baltic states.

Vejonis said the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) “has been at the heart of our transatlantic bond since the end of the Second World War” and “has served well in ensuring peace and security.” But he noted that “Russia’s readiness to change borders by force and increasing its military presence on our borders has undermined European security.”

The key element in NATO’S success is deterrence, and Latvia is thankful for “the U.S. leading role in providing a military presence in the Baltic states,” he said. He added that Latvia is ready to do more, including increasing defense spending.

Vejonis said that the “Russian aggression toward Ukraine has urged us to rethink European security in general” and “underscored the importance our transatlantic unity”. He also said Latvia supports continued, even strengthened, sanctions against Russia because of Moscow’s actions against Ukraine.

"Most important here is the united response by the U.S., European Union (E.U.) and other like-minded allies and partners towards Russia — violations of international law cannot be tolerated,” he said. The E.U. will continue the “two-track approach” of negotiations and restrictive measures toward Moscow, and “the illegal annexation of Crimea will burden our relations with Russia in the long term” and will require “strategic patience,” he said.

The Baltic leader noted that the U.S. and Latvia “share mutual aspirations for successful development of trade relations” and that his country has a strong interest in deepening economic ties, in particular “further attracting U.S. investment.”

He said that the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, “will not only stimulate economies on both sides of the Atlantic, but also strengthen our geo-strategic partnership.”

Vejonis said Latvia intends to “further develop regional gas infrastructure and create a fully functioning, liberal, transparent and competitive regional Baltic gas market, giving us the opportunity for closer cooperation with the U.S. and other Liquid Natural Gas exporting countries.”

The final question to Vejonis was a request for his views on the upcoming U.S. presidential elections.

“Do you honestly want me to answer that?, he responded, to laughter.

He did not.