While in Latvia, Deputy Prime Minister Radosław Sikorski and Latvia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Baiba Braže visited the Ādaži military base hosting NATO’s multinational brigade. During the meeting, the Polish MFA head highlighted that Poland and Latvia face similar threats and challenges in the security domain.

Both of our countries have recently been experiencing airspace violations caused by Russia, weaponized artificial migration pressure on our borders, and various other hostile sabotage actions

- said Deputy Prime Minister Radosław Sikorski and pointed out that Poland and Latvia are leaders within NATO in terms of defence spending, which accounts for 4.8 and 4.7 per cent of their GDPs respectively.

Deputy Prime Minister Sikorski emphasised that the military base in Ādaži is a symbol of Polish–Latvian defence cooperation. The Canadian-led Combat Group that stations at the base comprises about 2,850 troops, including over 230 soldiers from Poland. Most of the 19th rotation of the Polish Military Contingent Latvia is made up of the 11th Lubuska Armoured Cavalry Division soldiers from Żagań. Deputy Prime Minister Sikorski met with Polish soldiers and took part in a presentation of military equipment.

While in Latvia, Deputy Prime Minister Radosław Sikorski also participated in a meeting with the heads of diplomacy of Latvia, Finland, Ireland, and Hungary. The ministers discussed hybrid threats in Europe. The head of Polish diplomacy spoke about an intensification of Russia’s hostile hybrid activities targeting NATO and EU members, in particular countries on the eastern flank. He emphasised the need for close cooperation to counteract such activities.

The ministers also talked about the enlargement of the European Union, especially progress made to date by Ukraine, Moldova, and Western Balkan countries. Deputy Prime Minister Sikorski pointed out the need for an in-depth discussion on the EU’s functioning in its future, enlarged form.

The talks also covered the situation in the Strait of Hormuz. The ministers highlighted the need to work towards a dyplomatic resolution of the conflict and to restore free and safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

They also laid flowers at the Freedom Monument in Riga, which commemorates soldiers fallen during the Latvian War of Independence in 1918–1920.