The Baltic Chairs of Foreign Affairs Committees will also meet with the representatives of the Ministry of Defence and the Spanish think tank Elcano Institute and visit El Goloso military base.
On my way to #Spain for a B3 🇱🇻🇱🇹🇪🇪Parliaments’ Chairs of Foreign Affairs Committees visit. Many important meetings ahead - at the @SpainMFA, @Congreso_Es, @Defensagob and elsewhere to strengthen the 🇱🇻🇪🇪🇱🇹+🇪🇸 partnership! @markomihkelson @Andrikiene @pmklose pic.twitter.com/o4TSL4VOxT
— Rihards Kols (@RihardsKols) May 17, 2022
Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Saeima (Parliament) of the Republic of Latvia Rihards Kols is participating with Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) Marko Mihkelson and Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Seimas (Parliament) of the Republic of Lithuania Laima Andrikienė.
Estonia's Mihkelson said that the visit would focus on continuing the provision of military, economic and political support to Ukraine, including supporting Ukraine becoming a candidate country for membership of the European Union.
“We will also discuss how to contribute to the investigation of the war crimes committed by Russian troops and speak about the possibilities for continuing to put pressure on Russia. Our common aim must be to isolate Russia at international level,” he added.
Mihkelson underlined that the war Russia had started in Ukraine had changed the security situation of the whole Europe. “Therefore, we will also discuss strengthening NATO’s eastern flank and the opportunities for deepening mutual defence cooperation,” he said.
Spain makes an important contribution to security in the Baltic region. It has had around 350 troops stationed at Camp Ādaži near Rīga since 2017, and recently announced the deployment of an extra 150 troops. It is also a regular contributor to the Baltic Air Policing mission.