The Minister said he hoped that Sweden would also become a full member of NATO by the time the NATO Summit in Vilnius takes place in July, according to a release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
"From Latvia’s perspective, the accession of Finland and Sweden will consolidate NATO’s leading role in the Baltic Sea region – in the air, at sea and on land," said the release without quoting Rinkēvičs directly.
However, he was directly quoted on the meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Commission which also took place April 4.
“NATO’s Vilnius Summit should be a strategic summit; therefore, I call for an assessment of how to further deepen the strategic partnership with Ukraine in the long term. At the moment, every effort must be made to strengthen Ukraine’s defence capabilities against Russia. Latvia, for its part, will continue to provide all the necessary support to Ukraine,” Rinkēvičs said.
Latvia's Prime Minister and President also offered their congratulations to Finland on April 4.
#NATO at 74 becomes an ever more secure and united defence Alliance with accession of #Finland 🇫🇮 today and #Sweden 🇸🇪 soon. #NATOday
— Egils Levits (@valstsgriba) April 4, 2023
Congratulations President @niinisto and a warm welcome! pic.twitter.com/OwJdKTrxZS
This is a historical day for @NATO and our region. Warm welcome to our close friends - people of #Finland 🇫🇮 on joining and making Nordic-Baltic region and the Alliance even stronger!
— Krišjānis Kariņš (@krisjaniskarins) April 4, 2023
Looking forward to welcome #Sweden into NATO! #WeAreNATO #Strongertogether
