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“Closer cooperation is in all our interests,” emphasised Deputy Speaker of the Saeima Antoņina Ņenaševa on Wednesday, 28 May, as she welcomed the Chair of the Defence Committee of the Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi, to the Saeima. The meeting placed particular emphasis on strengthening defence partnerships and fostering cooperation between the United Kingdom and the European Union.

The Chair of the UK Parliament’s Defence Committee is visiting Latvia as part of the international drone summit taking place in Riga this week. Deputy Speaker Ņenaševa highlighted that the United Kingdom is Latvia’s closest ally in the drone coalition. Latvia and the UK jointly launched the coalition in 2024, and since its establishment, approximately 5,000 combat drones have already been delivered to Ukraine.

In discussing opportunities to further expand the partnership, A. Ņenaševa underscored that enhanced cooperation between the European Union and the United Kingdom—particularly in the defence industry—is essential for strengthening European security.

Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi remarked that Latvia understands this is a time for solidarity and that defence must be a priority. “If we do not support Ukraine, our collective security will be at risk,” the Defence Committee Chair stated. A. Ņenaševa also underscored the impact of disinformation on society and expressed her appreciation to the United Kingdom for its significant contribution to combating disinformation.

The discussion also addressed the Latvian diaspora in the United Kingdom, recognised as a valuable asset for strengthening bilateral cooperation, including in business. The sides also explored ways to enhance interparliamentary dialogue between the two countries.

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Saeima Press Service