Latvia hosts European foreign ministers with eastern flank security high on agenda

RIGA, Sept. 9 (Xinhua) -- Latvia hosted a series of European foreign ministers on Wednesday, with NATO's eastern flank security, protection of the European Union's eastern border and continued support for Ukraine high on the agenda, according to the Latvian Foreign Ministry.

Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braze received counterparts from the Netherlands, Poland, Hungary, Finland, Ireland, Norway and Croatia. The visits came ahead of the Riga Conference 2026, an annual foreign policy and security forum opening on Thursday.

During Braze's talks with Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen, and Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, a common theme was the funding for the EU's eastern border.

The ministers agreed that the bloc's next long-term budget should provide adequate funding for border infrastructure, technology, military mobility and the capabilities of border and security services, the Latvian Foreign Ministry said.

Support for Ukraine and pressure on Russia also featured prominently in Wednesday's meetings.

The visits highlighted Latvia's push to make the security of the EU and NATO eastern border a broader European priority ahead of the Riga Conference.