During working visit to Latvia, acting Foreign Minister Toiu says strengthening regional security is a priority

Acting Foreign Minister Oana Toiu paid a working visit to Riga on Friday at the invitation of her Latvian counterpart, Baiba Brae, where she emphasized that strengthening regional security is a priority for the two countries.According to a Foreign Ministry (MAE) release, during the political and diplomatic consultations, the two ministers pointed out that the visit marks the beginning of a new stage in bilateral relations, with the inauguration of the premises of the Embassy of Romania in the Republic of Latvia.2026 marks 105 years since the establishment of Romania - Latvia bilateral diplomatic relations and 35 years since their restoration.Oana Toiu highlighted the growing bilateral political dialogue, the two countries' similar assessments of the security challenges facing the region, as well as their common positions on a significant number of key issues on the European agenda.The sides also welcomed the upward trend in bilateral trade, which totalled approximately 220 million euros in 2025. The two officials agreed on the need for additional efforts to boost investment, including by intensifying direct contacts between the business communities of the two countries, the cited release said.The two sides also reaffirmed cooperation in defence, internal affairs and education, while examining new avenues for sectoral cooperation in agriculture, energy, advanced technologies, civil protection, cybersecurity and strategic communication.An important part of the consultations focused on the security situation on NATO's eastern flank, including the hybrid challenges facing both Romania and Latvia. According to the MAE, the Romanian minister stressed the need for close coordination among Allies and continued joint efforts to strengthen national and collective capabilities to respond to threats.Romania's contribution to collective security was also highlighted, including its participation in the NATO Baltic Air Policing mission between April and July 2026.Oana Toiu drew attention to the security situation in the Black Sea and the recent drone incidents affecting countries on NATO's eastern flank, including Romania and Latvia. According to her, the incidents once again demonstrate that Russia's war is generating security risks far beyond Ukraine.The Romanian and Latvian ministers also underscored the importance of continuing support for Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression, as well as support for the Republic of Moldova amid the complex challenges it is facing.The two officials also discussed the main current issues on the European agenda, reiterating their commitment to supporting the European paths of the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine, as well as to continuing the EU enlargement process with the Western Balkan countries, the MAE said.Regarding negotiations on the future Multiannual Financial Framework, Toiu and Brae agreed that strengthening regional security and economic convergence are common priorities for Romania and Latvia.The Romanian minister also stressed the importance of coordination within regional and multilateral formats, and expressed Romania's support for Latvia's priorities during its term as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council (2026-2027).Regarding the situation in the Middle East, Oana Toiu stressed the importance of continuing international de-escalation efforts, as well as efforts aimed at limiting the regional and global impact of tensions in the region. (Photo:https://www.mae.ro/)