Kariņš: United States is Latvia’s strategic partner and a close ally

On July 9 and 10, Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš met with high-ranking U.S. officials in Washington and discussed Latvia-United States bilateral relations, U.S. support for Latvia's security, as well as transatlantic cooperation and international security, the strengthening of the financial sector’s supervision and investment opportunities, acknowledging that the United States is Latvia's strategic partner and a close ally.

“During our meeting with United States Vice-President Mike Pence, we discussed both the situation regarding international security, particularly in the Baltic Sea region, and the possibilities for economic cooperation by increasing the U.S. investment volume in Latvia. Latvia's business environment will have become significantly better for foreign investment due to ‘capital improvements’ to the financial sector’s supervision,” stressed K.Kariņš.

Investment opportunities in Latvia, ‘capital improvements’ to the supervision of the financial sector and strengthening of transatlantic relations were the main topics under discussion at the meeting with Speaker of United States House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi, Secretary of the Treasury Stephen Mnuchin and United States Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross.

K. Kariņš participated in the public discussion “United States-Latvian Relationship in a Time of European Transition” held in Washington and organised by the think-tank “The Atlantic Council”, as well as in a round-table discussion on the role of transatlantic relations today organized by the think-tank “The Hudson Institute”. Video recording is available at.

Within the framework of the working visit, the Prime Minister will stay in New York where he will address entrepreneurs at an event hosted by the Baltic - American and European - American Chambers of Commerce.  The Prime Minister will also give interviews for the media, including an interview with Steve Forbes for his weekly podcast.