On the occasion of the 36th Anniversary of the Baltic Way, honouring its historical significance when Latvians, Estonians, and Lithuanians joined hands to oppose the Soviet occupation regime by creating a human chain spanning more than 600 kilometres connecting the capitals of the Baltic States, the Presidium of the Baltic Assembly (BA) on Friday the 22nd of August adopted a statement on the ongoing shared responsibility to protect freedom of Ukraine.   

On Friday, 22 August, heads of the Nordic and Baltic delegations to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe—MPs from Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Iceland—held a meeting and signed a joint declaration affirming their unwavering commitment to ensuring peace, security, and democracy in Europe. 

Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica, Deputy Speaker of the Saeima, met with U.S. Republican Congressman Andrew Harris to discuss the continuation of the Baltic Security Initiative, the importance of the U.S. military presence for the security of NATO’s eastern flank, as well as the war in Ukraine, focusing on the return of abducted and deported Ukrainian children. Also present at the meeting was Saeima Secretary Edvards Smiltēns and Liene Dambiņa, Chair of the Children’s Hospital Foundation. Congressman Harris is in Latvia this week as part of a visit organised by the Saeima. 

The United States is an important partner for Latvian businesses, economic cooperation, including in the energy sector, and for national defence as a whole. This was underlined by Jānis Grasbergs, Deputy Secretary of the Saeima, on Tuesday, 19 August, during a meeting at the Saeima with U.S. Congressman Andrew Harris, who is on a visit in Latvia this week. Also present at the meeting was Irma Kalniņa, Chair of the Saeima Group for Promoting Cooperation with the U.S. Congress, and Jānis Patmalnieks, Member of the Group.

Sanctions pressure on Russia must continue, Speaker of the Saeima Daiga Mieriņa said on Monday, 18 August, at a meeting with US Congressman Andrew Harris, who is visiting Latvia this week. Congressman Harris also met with Deputy Speakers Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica and Antoņina Ņenaševa, Secretary of the Saeima Edvards Smiltēns, and Deputy Secretary Jānis Grasbergs.

On Tuesday, 12 August, ahead of the planned peace talks in Alaska, the Speakers of Parliament of Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania – Daiga Mieriņa, Lauri Hussar and Saulius Skvernelis – issued a joint declaration stating: “We reaffirm our steadfast and unwavering commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity in the face of Russia’s illegal war of aggression.”

“We follow developments in your region closely every day and remain firmly convinced that Israel has the right to self-defence, in line with international and humanitarian law,” said Speaker of the Saeima Daiga Mieriņa on Tuesday, 5 August, during a meeting with the President of Israel Isaac Herzog in the Parliament.

Antoņina Ņenaševa, Deputy Speaker of the Saeima, is currently in Geneva, Switzerland, where she took part in the 6th World Conference of Speakers of Parliament. During the debate on the current geopolitical situation she condemned Russia’s genocide and ecocide against Ukraine and warned the international community of the consequences if Russia is not held accountable for its crime of aggression.

Deputy Speaker of the Saeima Antoņina Ņenaševa recently took part in the 15th Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament, held in Geneva, Switzerland, where she delivered a speech on digital security issues.

From 15 to 18 July, Deputy Speaker of the Saeima Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica visited the US to participate in the Aspen Security Forum—­one of the world's most influential platforms for dialogue on security and foreign policy.