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Canada and Latvia have long-standing foreign relations. During the 1920s, Canada helped Lithuania gain their independence with their victory in the war over the Baltics in Lithuania. Canada never recognized the Soviet Union's annexation of Latvia and re-recognized Latvia's independence on August 26, 1991.
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Both countries are full members of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and of NATO.
Political relations
Canada never recognized the Soviet occupation of the Baltic States and was the first country of the G7 to recognize Latvia's Independence. On 28 March 2003, Canada was the first country to ratify Latvia's accession in NATO. The presence of a significant and active Latvian-Canadian community (estimated at 22,600) also underpins the bilateral relationship.
High level visits
The Speaker of Latvian Parliament (Saeima) Mr. Gundars Daudze led a parliamentary delegation to Canada in May 2008. Canadian Minister of International Trade Stockwell Day visited Latvia in May 2009. The Speaker of the Senate of Canada Noël A. Kinsella visited Latvia in January 2010.[citation needed]
In March 2022, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited Latvia and met with Latvian Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš and President Egils Levits. The meeting reinforced Canada’s commitment to NATO in solidarity with European allies and partners in the face of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The Prime Ministers of Canada, Latvia, and Spain, and the NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also visited with the troops of NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group at Camp Ādaži in Latvia.[1][2]
Resident diplomatic missions
See also
References
- ^ "Prime Minister concludes successful bilateral visit to Latvia". Government of Canada. 8 March 2022. Archived from the original on 11 December 2022. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
- ^ "NATO Secretary General with the Prime Ministers of Canada, Latvia and Spain, 08 MAR 2022". NATO News. Archived from the original on 14 October 2022. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
