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Poland is among Latvia’s closest strategic partners and plays a key role in ensuring the security, resilience and connectivity of the region, Deputy Speaker of the Saeima Antoņina Ņenaševa emphasised during meetings with senior Polish officials.
Earlier this week, the Deputy Speaker and the delegation she led paid a working visit to Warsaw, holding discussions with Polish counterparts on regional security challenges, the strengthening of interparliamentary cooperation, and coordination of both countries’ economic interests at the European Union level.
During the visit, members of the Saeima met with Head of the International Policy Bureau at the Chancellery of the President of Poland Marcin Przydacz and Chair of the Sejm National Defence Committee Andrzej Grzyb, stressing the need for even closer coordination within NATO. The parliamentarians also met with representatives of the National Security Bureau, as well as with Head of the Poland–Latvia Parliamentary Friendship Group Robert Telus and its members.
“In the current geopolitical context, rapid reinforcement of NATO’s defence and deterrence capabilities is essential, in line with the threats posed by Russia,” A. Ņenaševa stressed. “Equally important is coordinated diplomatic engagement by the Baltic States and Poland to convince the United States to maintain and increase its military presence in the region.”
Enhancing Latvia–Poland joint projects in the defence industry is critically important for regional resilience, the Deputy Speaker noted during the meetings. The parties discussed recent developments within the Drone Coalition, and A. Ņenaševa highlighted opportunities to strengthen cooperation in the drone industry and technologies, inviting Polish manufacturers to test their products in Latvia and to participate in the international Drone Summit to be held in Riga at the end of May.
Education and cultural cooperation were also discussed. “The history, culture and language of the Polish people are an integral part of Latvia’s cultural and historical heritage. They form a solid foundation for mutual understanding between our nations, even in today’s complex political environment,” A. Ņenaševa stressed during a meeting with Deputy Marshal of the Sejm Szymon Hołownia, highly valuing the active and regular political dialogue between Latvia and Poland.
As part of the visit, the Latvian delegation visited the Museum of the Cursed Soldiers and Political Prisoners of the Polish People’s Republic, and met with lecturers and students of the Department of Baltic Studies at the University of Warsaw, who actively promote Latvian language and culture in Poland.
Concluding the visit, A. Ņenaševa emphasised that strengthening regional cooperation – both between the Baltic States and Poland and within the NB8–Poland format – is a priority of Latvia’s foreign policy, encompassing security and joint efforts to preserve linguistic and cultural ties. The visit reaffirmed Latvia’s and Poland’s shared understanding of European security priorities and their commitment to strengthening parliamentary cooperation as an essential instrument of international relations.
Alongside A. Ņenaševa, the Saeima was represented during the visit by Chair of the Group for Promoting Cooperation with the Parliament of Poland and Secretary of the Foreign Affairs Committee Juris Viļums, Deputy Chair of the National Security Committee Jānis Dombrava, Chair of the Public Expenditure and Audit Committee Gatis Liepiņš, and Chair of the State Administration and Local Government Committee Oļegs Burovs.
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Saeima Press Service