EU top diplomat Borrell visits Latvia

LONDON

EU foreign policy head Josep Borrell met Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braze in Riga on Saturday where they underlined continued support for Ukraine and discussed developments at the EU and NATO eastern border.

Borrell also had a chance to speak with Defense Minister Andris Spruds and visit Camp Adazi Military Base near Riga, where there is a large Spanish contingent of NATO troops.

Braze thanked Borrell for his unwavering support to Ukraine and his peace and stability efforts in Europe.

The foreign minister underlined that the EU must be united and consistent in its position and continue to provide timely support -- military, financial and political -- to Ukraine “in the fight against the Russian aggression.”

Braze highlighted the need to strengthen EU-NATO cooperation to respond to global geopolitical challenges, including Ukraine.

“A problem for the international community is Russia, whose policy is war. Together, we must make every effort, including the broadening of sanctions against Russia and also Belarus, and implementing the existing ones effectively, so that Russia is not able to restore its military capacity and capabilities, as that would present a threat to the EU and NATO,” said Braze, according to a Foreign Ministry statement.

Borrell wrote on X after the meeting the need for “more” off and “quicker support to Ukraine and tackling sanctions’ circumvention.”

He said that “the challenging situation in the Middle East” was also discussed in the meeting.

“The security of the EU’s eastern border is critical,” said Braze, adding that currently work is going on that calls for financial and human resources.

“Latvia is shouldering the burden of sanctions control, while this burden should be shared among all EU Member States,” he added.

Estonia’s Prime Minister Kaja Kallas submitted her resignation earlier this week and will replace Borrell later this year.

For Borrell, the Latvian trip will prove to be one of his final working visits in the role.

The Spaniard has served as EU foreign policy chief since 2019.