On Friday 13 November, Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš, stressed at the International Security and Policy Forum “Riga Conference 2020” that the European Union, the United States and NATO must cooperate more closely to overcome global geopolitical challenges.
The Prime Minister acknowledged, at the beginning of his address, that the Covid-19 pandemic has further aggravated the current geopolitical challenges – relations with Russia, trade relations with China, the escalating disagreements in the Eastern Mediterranean region and the new outbreak of the military conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh. The geopolitical challenges are also reinforced by the increasing disinformation, fake news, information and societal fragmentation as the result of modern technologies.
At the same time, K.Kariņš noted that the people’s desire for freedom and democracy has not diminished, as it was demonstrated by the events in Belarus.
The Belarusian people have revolted against a president who refuses to admit that the elections were not free and fair. People demand free and fair elections because they want to live in a stable, independent and democratic Belarus. My message to the Belarusian people – we are with you”, emphasised the Prime Minister, stating that the like-minded democratic states must cooperate more closely in addressing the challenges of our times.”
K.Kariņš emphasized that the recent presidential elections in the US give us hope that it will be possible to strengthen the EU-US relations. Through closer EU-US cooperation they can become the world's dominant economic power, in the light of the fact that the US leadership in the global economy is not self-evident in the long term.
The Prime Minister stressed that Europe must also become stronger, including in the military area, and this is possible through joint work, because by staying together, the EU can be a dominant player in global politics.
As regards the relations with Russia, the Prime Minister stressed Latvia's willingness to develop good neighbourly relations, but this requires the willingness of both partners.
We see that Russia has not shown the slightest willingness to change and change its attitude, for example in relation to events in Ukraine and Georgia. Russia wants to maintain its influence in the region of the Nagorno-Karabakh military conflict. The same applies to events in Belarus. How to deal with Russia? “In my opinion, it is not possible to resolve them bilaterally,” noted the Prime Minister by saying that it is possible for Europe to work with the US.
In conclusion, K.Kariņš stressed that by working more closely, the European Union and the United States have the opportunity to become a united force, which can speak as equals in relations with China, Russia, and stand up for shared values of democratic states – freedom, democracy and the rule of law:
“In order to achieve this, we, who think along the same lines, must stand together, work together, and put aside any disagreements, because they are irrelevant compared to countries and regions representing other values. We need to be united to overcome today’s challenges.”
Photo:
Sandris Sabajevs
Press Secretary to the Prime Minister
Phone.: 67082865, Mob.: 22087726
E-mail: Sandris.Sabajevs@mk.gov.lv