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Latvia

The latest news, analysis and opinion on Latvia. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.

Capital

Riga

Head of State

President Edgars Rinkēvičs

Head of Government

Prime Minister Evika Siliņa

Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov attends a cabinet ministers meeting in Moscow on September 24. Photo: Sputnik / Reuters

European Union

European delegates walk out on Russian finance minister at IMF summit

Nearly a dozen delegates left the room when Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov began ⁠speaking at the steering ⁠committee meeting.

17 Oct 2026 - 3:51PM

Ukraine war

EU rallies around Zelensky as rift widens with Trump over Russia energy strikes

16 Oct 2026 - 6:29PM

Britain

UK counterterror police arrest 2 inside airbase used by US

9 Oct 2026 - 1:10PM

Russia

Latvia’s Andris Kulbergs wins big in election shadowed by Russia

Prime Minister Kulbergs, who is expected to form a pro-Ukrainian coalition, pledged to keep a hard line towards Moscow.

4 Oct 2026 - 9:07PM

Latvia’s Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs speaks in Riga on Saturday after the first exit poll results of the parliamentary election were announced. Photo: AFP

Ukraine war

Latvia holds election as concerns over Russia, inflation dominate

The Nato member views Russia as its main security threat and has significantly increased defence spending amid the Ukraine war.

3 Oct 2026 - 3:46PM

Russia

Estonia blames Russia for arson attack on company supplying vehicles to Ukraine

Moscow has been accused by Western officials of carrying out sabotage acts to undermine support for Ukraine and destabilise European nations.

29 Sep 2026 - 8:07PM

Get to Know

Meet Latvian tennis star Jelena Ostapenko, known for her on-court disputes

The 2017 French Open winner, who defeated Aryna Sabalenka at last year’s Stuttgart Open final, was once a national-level ballroom dancer.

9 Sep 2026 - 3:26PM

Jelena Ostapenko is Latvia’s top tennis player. Photo: EPA-EFE

Ukraine war

Russia strikes Ukraine capital for sixth straight day, killing at least 12

Civilians die in Russian air bombardments as Moscow repels Ukrainian drones.

1 Sep 2026 - 5:15PM

Accidents and disasters in China

China-Nepal floods: 261 foreigners missing in Tibet, online rumours targeted

Nepalese and Indians account for more than half of nationals from 23 countries missing after devastating glacier collapse four days ago.

30 Aug 2026 - 10:23PMvideocam

Nato

Nato jets shoot down foreign drone after it enters Latvian airspace

Latvia’s military said a foreign drone had entered its airspace as a result of Russia’s electronic warfare activity over the Balvi region.

14 Aug 2026 - 8:13PM

Servicemen of the Latvian National Guard gather before a search operation for the debris from an intercepted drone, in Rugaji, Latvia, on Friday. Photo: Reuters

United States

US to focus counterterrorism efforts on left-wing groups, Rubio says

Critics, however, fear that ‌designating groups as far-left terror organisations risks targeting lawful protests and political opponents.

17 Jul 2026 - 6:42AMvideocam

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks at the US Department of State on Thursday. Photo: AFP

Singapore

17 nations launch pact to protect vital undersea cables amid US, China absence

Singapore’s defence chief tells the Shangri-La Dialogue the pact aims to explore potential areas of collaboration and share best practices.

1 Jun 2026 - 9:40AM

Nato

Germany, Netherlands to set up Nato command centre in Baltics

The centre, known as 1GNC, is a command centre that can control up to 50,000 troops.

28 May 2026 - 7:36PMvideocam

European Union

‘Work to be done’: EU says it’s not ready to give Ukraine a membership date

Ukraine applied to join the ‌EU days after Russia’s invasion almost four years ago, seeking to anchor itself to the West.

15 Feb 2026 - 8:49PMvideocam

European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas addresses the media in Brussels in November. Photo: AP

China-EU relations

Full pivot or anxious hedge? Europe’s leaders flock to China

In Brussels, a form of transactional pragmatism has taken root as bloc seeks to weather US hostility.

31 Jan 2026 - 6:00PMvideocam

Prime Minister Keir Starmer of Britain, a non-EU state, pictured in Shanghai on Friday, becoming the latest European leader to make a beeline for China. Photo: Pool via Reuters

Donald Trump

‘Never been more relevant’: did Trump make Davos great again?

The Trump administration brought its ‘America First’ agenda to Davos, challenging the summit’s status quo while drawing record crowds of elites.

23 Jan 2026 - 8:42PMvideocam

Donald Trump

Huge lines, laughs and gasps as Trump addresses Davos

Trump stuns Davos with jabs at Greenland, Nato, Canada’s Carney, and France’s Macron, as attendees liken the chaotic scene to a rock concert.

22 Jan 2026 - 12:00AMvideocam

United States

Opinion | Retreating globally, US finds a new arena to flex power – at home

Trump’s use of the military for domestic control without regard for constitutional boundaries should alert allies to a fundamental change in the US character.

22 Oct 2025 - 8:30PMvideocam

Russia

Baltic nations planning for mass evacuations in the event of a Russian attack

Moscow denies plans to attack Nato, but Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have long voiced fears about possible Russian aggression.

10 Oct 2025 - 3:02PMvideocam

Britain

UK police arrest 3 for spying as Lithuania eyes Russia-linked sabotage network

European security officials have previously warned that a widespread sabotage campaign blamed on Russia is growing more dangerous.

18 Sep 2025 - 7:55PMvideocam

China-EU relations

Flagging imbalances in China, EU chamber urges course correction in 5-year plan

Exhorting the need for a ‘new, productive development model’, latest chamber position paper airs members’ grievances.

17 Sep 2025 - 5:01PMvideocam

Some of China’s manufacturing industries, including the new-energy sector, have been plagued by low-price competition, or involution. Photo: Xinhua

Nato

Nato on high alert as Russia and Belarus launch major war games

Military drills heighten tensions, while France plans to send fighter jets to Poland - which says drone incursions were no mistake.

12 Sep 2025 - 7:21PM

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk holds a press conference about the threat posed by Russian drones. Photo: Agencja Wyborcza.pl/Tomasz Stanczak via Reuters

China's military weapons

Western leaders parse China military parade displaying national pride

US President Donald Trump says America deserves more credit for helping China gain its freedom.

4 Sep 2025 - 10:45PMvideocam

Russia

Russia needles Nato by escalating electronic warfare against Baltic nations

Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia press global organisations to take action against Moscow for threatening aviation and maritime safety.

24 Aug 2025 - 12:12PMvideocam

Ukraine war

Zelensky signs decree for Ukraine’s withdrawal from anti-personnel mines treaty

Driven by Russia’s widespread use of mines, the decision aims to restore Ukraine’s right to defend its territory.

30 Jun 2025 - 2:27PM

A Ukrainian sapper on demining operations in the Kharkiv area, northeastern Ukraine. File photo: EPA-EFE

France

France charges UK man over staged Disneyland ‘marriage’ with child

The man, who has a criminal record in Britain for sexual assault offences, staged the wedding with a girl, 9.

24 Jun 2025 - 5:50PM

The man is suspected of hiring Disneyland Paris before it opened to the public on Saturday for the staged wedding event, in a contract worth €130,000 (US$151,000). Photo: EPA-EFE

European Union

Poland, Baltic nations to quit landmine treaty amid Russia threat

Quitting the 1997 treaty will allow Poland and the three Baltic countries to start stockpiling and using landmines again.

19 Mar 2025 - 1:28AMvideocam

Russia

Lithuania blames Russian military intelligence for Ikea store arson

The Ikea store was set ablaze in Vilnius in May 2024 and caused no casualties.

17 Mar 2025 - 10:09PMvideocam

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Latvia

European delegates walk out on Russian finance minister at IMF summit

Nearly a dozen delegates left the room when Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov began ⁠speaking at the steering ⁠committee meeting.

EU rallies around Zelensky as rift widens with Trump over Russia energy strikes

UK counterterror police arrest 2 inside airbase used by US

Latvia’s Andris Kulbergs wins big in election shadowed by Russia

Prime Minister Kulbergs, who is expected to form a pro-Ukrainian coalition, pledged to keep a hard line towards Moscow.

Latvia holds election as concerns over Russia, inflation dominate

The Nato member views Russia as its main security threat and has significantly increased defence spending amid the Ukraine war.

Estonia blames Russia for arson attack on company supplying vehicles to Ukraine

Moscow has been accused by Western officials of carrying out sabotage acts to undermine support for Ukraine and destabilise European nations.

Meet Latvian tennis star Jelena Ostapenko, known for her on-court disputes

The 2017 French Open winner, who defeated Aryna Sabalenka at last year’s Stuttgart Open final, was once a national-level ballroom dancer.

Russia strikes Ukraine capital for sixth straight day, killing at least 12

Civilians die in Russian air bombardments as Moscow repels Ukrainian drones.

China-Nepal floods: 261 foreigners missing in Tibet, online rumours targeted

Nepalese and Indians account for more than half of nationals from 23 countries missing after devastating glacier collapse four days ago.

Nato jets shoot down foreign drone after it enters Latvian airspace

Latvia’s military said a foreign drone had entered its airspace as a result of Russia’s electronic warfare activity over the Balvi region.

US to focus counterterrorism efforts on left-wing groups, Rubio says

Critics, however, fear that ‌designating groups as far-left terror organisations risks targeting lawful protests and political opponents.

17 nations launch pact to protect vital undersea cables amid US, China absence

Singapore’s defence chief tells the Shangri-La Dialogue the pact aims to explore potential areas of collaboration and share best practices.

Germany, Netherlands to set up Nato command centre in Baltics

The centre, known as 1GNC, is a command centre that can control up to 50,000 troops.

‘Work to be done’: EU says it’s not ready to give Ukraine a membership date

Ukraine applied to join the ‌EU days after Russia’s invasion almost four years ago, seeking to anchor itself to the West.

Full pivot or anxious hedge? Europe’s leaders flock to China

In Brussels, a form of transactional pragmatism has taken root as bloc seeks to weather US hostility.

‘Never been more relevant’: did Trump make Davos great again?

The Trump administration brought its ‘America First’ agenda to Davos, challenging the summit’s status quo while drawing record crowds of elites.

Huge lines, laughs and gasps as Trump addresses Davos

Trump stuns Davos with jabs at Greenland, Nato, Canada’s Carney, and France’s Macron, as attendees liken the chaotic scene to a rock concert.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Opinion | Retreating globally, US finds a new arena to flex power – at home

Trump’s use of the military for domestic control without regard for constitutional boundaries should alert allies to a fundamental change in the US character.

Baltic nations planning for mass evacuations in the event of a Russian attack

Moscow denies plans to attack Nato, but Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have long voiced fears about possible Russian aggression.

UK police arrest 3 for spying as Lithuania eyes Russia-linked sabotage network

European security officials have previously warned that a widespread sabotage campaign blamed on Russia is growing more dangerous.

Flagging imbalances in China, EU chamber urges course correction in 5-year plan

Exhorting the need for a ‘new, productive development model’, latest chamber position paper airs members’ grievances.

Nato on high alert as Russia and Belarus launch major war games

Military drills heighten tensions, while France plans to send fighter jets to Poland - which says drone incursions were no mistake.

Western leaders parse China military parade displaying national pride

US President Donald Trump says America deserves more credit for helping China gain its freedom.

Russia needles Nato by escalating electronic warfare against Baltic nations

Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia press global organisations to take action against Moscow for threatening aviation and maritime safety.

Zelensky signs decree for Ukraine’s withdrawal from anti-personnel mines treaty

Driven by Russia’s widespread use of mines, the decision aims to restore Ukraine’s right to defend its territory.

France charges UK man over staged Disneyland ‘marriage’ with child

The man, who has a criminal record in Britain for sexual assault offences, staged the wedding with a girl, 9.

Poland, Baltic nations to quit landmine treaty amid Russia threat

Quitting the 1997 treaty will allow Poland and the three Baltic countries to start stockpiling and using landmines again.

Lithuania blames Russian military intelligence for Ikea store arson

The Ikea store was set ablaze in Vilnius in May 2024 and caused no casualties.

Opinion | Retreating globally, US finds a new arena to flex power – at home