The United States is an important partner for Latvian businesses, economic cooperation, including in the energy sector, and for national defence as a whole. This was underlined by Jānis Grasbergs, Deputy Secretary of the Saeima, on Tuesday, 19 August, during a meeting at the Saeima with U.S. Congressman Andrew Harris, who is on a visit in Latvia this week. Also present at the meeting was Irma Kalniņa, Chair of the Saeima Group for Promoting Cooperation with the U.S. Congress, and Jānis Patmalnieks, Member of the Group.

Sanctions pressure on Russia must continue, Speaker of the Saeima Daiga Mieriņa said on Monday, 18 August, at a meeting with US Congressman Andrew Harris, who is visiting Latvia this week. Congressman Harris also met with Deputy Speakers Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica and Antoņina Ņenaševa, Secretary of the Saeima Edvards Smiltēns, and Deputy Secretary Jānis Grasbergs.

On Tuesday, 12 August, ahead of the planned peace talks in Alaska, the Speakers of Parliament of Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania – Daiga Mieriņa, Lauri Hussar and Saulius Skvernelis – issued a joint declaration stating: “We reaffirm our steadfast and unwavering commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity in the face of Russia’s illegal war of aggression.”

“We follow developments in your region closely every day and remain firmly convinced that Israel has the right to self-defence, in line with international and humanitarian law,” said Speaker of the Saeima Daiga Mieriņa on Tuesday, 5 August, during a meeting with the President of Israel Isaac Herzog in the Parliament.

Antoņina Ņenaševa, Deputy Speaker of the Saeima, is currently in Geneva, Switzerland, where she took part in the 6th World Conference of Speakers of Parliament. During the debate on the current geopolitical situation she condemned Russia’s genocide and ecocide against Ukraine and warned the international community of the consequences if Russia is not held accountable for its crime of aggression.

Deputy Speaker of the Saeima Antoņina Ņenaševa recently took part in the 15th Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament, held in Geneva, Switzerland, where she delivered a speech on digital security issues.

From 15 to 18 July, Deputy Speaker of the Saeima Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica visited the US to participate in the Aspen Security Forum—­one of the world's most influential platforms for dialogue on security and foreign policy.

“Without forgetting those whose lives were brutally extinguished in the Holocaust 84 years ago, let us today do everything in our power to build a world of humanity, compassion and justice. May remembrance make us stronger, may we stand up for one another, and may we say: never again,” Daiga Mieriņa¸ Speaker of the Saeima, said on Friday, 4 July, addressing those present at an event dedicated to the commemorating the victims of the genocide of the Jewish people.

On Wednesday, July 2, Deputy Speaker of the Saeima Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica met with a delegation of advisors to the United States Congress to discuss cooperation between the two countries' legislatures, the security situation in the Baltic region, and current issues in transatlantic relations.

To strengthen transatlantic ties and cooperation with the United States, the Saeima will henceforth have its own representative in Washington to work with the US Congress. This representative will be responsible for promoting Latvia’s interests and advocating for priorities essential to the entire region.