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On Wednesday, 29 June, Daiga Mieriņa, Speaker of the Saeima, met with Sam Mostyn, Governor-General of Australia, who is on an official visit to Latvia. During the meeting, officials discussed the Latvia-Australia bilateral relations, cooperation in security and defence, support for Ukraine, as well as deepening parliamentary ties between the two countries.
“Latvia and Australia are united by common democratic values, reliable partnership, and a shared understanding of the need to defend an international rules-based order,” said Speaker Mieriņa, emphasising that 27 August of this year marks the 35th anniversary of the establishment of Latvia-Australia diplomatic relations, and that the visit of the Governor-General of Australia is an important event in the timeline of these relations. This is the first visit of the Governor-General of Australia to Latvia and the Baltic States.
The Speaker of the Saeima thanked Australia for its consistent support for Ukraine and strong stance against Russia’s aggression. Both parties agreed that comprehensive support for Ukraine must continue as long as necessary to achieve just and lasting peace. Officials also discussed the cooperation of the two countries within the Drone Coalition. Australia is member of the Coalition since 2024.
The discussion also focused on opportunities for cooperation in economy, innovation and technology, and defence. Speaker Mieriņa underlined the rapid development of digital technology, cybersecurity, and unmanned systems, as well as the potential of both countries for deepening cooperation in science and entrepreneurship. Latvia and Australia enjoy deepening economic ties, as demonstrated by a 20% growth in Latvian exports to Australia in 2025.
The parties also discussed the importance of diaspora in strengthening bilateral relations. Australia is home to over twenty thousand people of Latvian descent, and the diaspora has been working for decades to maintain close ties between Latvia and Australia.
During her visit to the Saeima, the Governor-General of Australia also met with Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica, Deputy Speaker of the Saeima; Ināra Mūrniece, Chair of the Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee; and Artūrs Butāns, Head of the Saeima Group for Cooperation with the Parliament of Australia.
The Governor-General of Australia is on an official visit to Latvian from 28 to 30 July. During the visit, she is scheduled to meet with the highest-ranking Latvian officials and tour the Museum of the Occupation and the NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence.
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Saeima Press Service