Minister Grlić Radman on working visit to Latvia: Security, EU enlargement and regional cooperation in focus

On 5 September 2025, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlić Radman paid a working visit to Latvia, where he met with Minister of Foreign Affairs Baiba Braže and President Edgars Rinkēvičs.

The interlocutors reaffirmed the excellent bilateral relations between Croatia and Latvia, highlighting opportunities for strengthening economic, energy, and defence cooperation. Discussions also addressed Croatia's accession to the OECD, with Grlić Radman emphasizing the importance of membership as the final step toward full integration into Euro-Atlantic structures, and expressing gratitude to Latvia for its continued support.

Particular attention was devoted to current regional initiatives. Croatia has assumed the presidency of the Three Seas Initiative for 2026, while next year it will, for the first time, preside over the MED9 format, which will further consolidate its role in advancing regional cooperation and security.

The parties also exchanged views on security challenges, focusing on support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East, the fight against hybrid threats, and the European enlargement process concerning the Western Balkans, Ukraine, and Moldova.

During the visit, Grlić Radman also held meetings with members of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Latvia-Croatia Friendship Group of the Parliament of the Republic of Latvia, as well as with the Director of NATO's Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence. In addition, the minister delivered a lecture at the University of Latvia on "Medium-sized EU Member States and the Future of European Security: A Croatian Perspective", in which he emphasized the role of Croatia and other medium-sized EU member states in shaping the future of European security.

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