Latvian Political Monitor

@artuss @Egriks I have already sent a letter to VID

I believe that membership in NATO is our country's most significant foreign policy achievement since the restoration of Latvia's independence.

Today marks 20 years since Latvia became a member of the world's strongest military alliance. With that, I congratulate us all! #NATO

Latvia's ambassador to NATO: A large attack is not unexpectedly possible.

"My uncle used to say that the best manure dealers often carry their samples in their mouths. Russian officials, it seems, are quite good manure dealers," White House national security communications adviser John Kirby told journalists.

Finally put an end to the long-standing dependence on transit of Russian origin - this is in Latvia's security and growth interests. But how exactly will we reorient our port and logistics sector? Today, at the meeting of the Latvian Port, Transit and Logistics Council, @Sat_Min proposed 5 priority directions: (1) Cargo flows and investments from allied countries: It has long been clear that new cargo will not just fall into our laps from the air; we have to actively look for it ourselves. Over the past 12 years, I am the first Minister of Transport to have addressed the US Secretary of Transportation about US investments in Latvian ports. In recent years, the US has been directing significant investments and industrial cargo deliveries to Central Asia, as well as the Caspian Sea and Caucasus regions. For example, the Port of Riga is already being used for unloading General Motors automotive cargo in Uzbekistan. This is an opportunity for Latvia. We must actively lobby our role in securing US interests - the benefit will be not only economic, but also for our security. In the near future, I plan visits to Germany, Denmark and Belgium to seek new cooperation opportunities. Similarly, there are Far Eastern sea cargoes to Central Europe. Latvian ports are currently not using their full potential to compete with the major European ports. For example, comparing the entire supply chain Hamburg-Prague and Riga-Prague, we have a 300-400 euro advantage per container transported. That is a very significant advantage that our southern neighbours have been using for a long time. If now the Latvian economy gains ~17 euros per tonne from low value-added transit, then integrating into such higher value-added supply chains would at least double our gain. Latvia must strategically look at the markets of North America, Western and Northern countries, as well as Central Asia. Also, Ro-Ro transport is a priority, including strengthening strategic cooperation with @StenaLine and directing investments to reconstruct berths in order to accommodate larger vessels. (2) Latvian exports and domestic transport: What needs to be done with @VAS_LDz as volumes of cheap Russian cargo fall significantly? Logically, one should start with domestic freight transport, promoting the shift of cargo from road to rail. Latvia has long invested huge EU funds in expanding cheap transit infrastructure. But the need to connect our industrial parks to the railway and to create inland terminals was forgotten. These mistakes must be urgently corrected. For example, we have started cooperation with grain cooperatives to integrate grain elevators into the railway system, and we will also start talks with @Zemkopibas_min to have 'Latvijas valsts meži' use the railway for its timber exports. Additionally, @Sat_min will advance to the Cabinet of Ministers a proposal for the reallocation of EU funds to create several inland intermodal terminals, or dry ports. We will also support port area development projects in the ministry to promote exports. Specifically, @LiepajasSEZ and Ventspils @Brivosta projects to create drinking water terminals for export to the Middle East and other world regions. (3) Industrial development in ports/special economic zones: Port activity should not be judged only by the volume of tonnes handled. Even now, the industrial development of port areas gives the Latvian economy a greater benefit. Together, the industrial parks of Liepāja and Ventspils ports already host more than 50 factories. By supporting the further development of these industrial parks (and also the Spilve industrial park of the Freeport of Riga), we would attract foreign investment and the presence of new export-capable companies in Latvia. A concrete example - I recently visited the 'Bucher' production plant based in the Ventspils port industrial park. This Swiss company exports street sweepers produced in Latvia to more than 30 countries, its turnover is over €80 million, and it provides around 400 well-paid jobs in Latvia. This is just one example of many opportunities that the state must multiply with support. (4) Renewable energy projects: One of Latvia's strategic priorities is promoting energy independence. Both on the Latvian coast and elsewhere in the region, large-scale offshore wind park projects are planned. The question is - what will Latvia's role be in these energy mega-projects? 'Van Oord Dredging and Marine Contractors B.V.' has already signed a contract with the Port of Liepāja for the construction of a support base for offshore wind parks and a bulk cargo terminal. Similarly, the Port of Ventspils is involved in the ELWIND project. Specifically, we are talking about opportunities for a production base for oversized wind turbine structures, wind turbine assembly and fitting, etc. We can also strongly position ourselves in converting produced energy into hydrogen, green ammonia, and other renewable energy product production and storage. From the ministry, we support the plans of Liepāja and Ventspils to build hydrogen plants, and we are ready to engage in the future hydrogen economy. The state must provide the necessary support for infrastructure and attracting foreign investors. These investments will pay off for the state in well-paid jobs, higher tax revenues, and achieving climate goals. (5) Military mobility: It is critically important for Latvia to enhance connectivity with our allies in the West for the rapid delivery of military cargo to the Baltics. Railway and port infrastructure is an integral part of Latvia's security architecture. Therefore, work is already underway to increase capacity in Latvian ports to receive such cargo. This requires the development of port terminals so that we create as many places as possible where we can quickly unload and move any type of equipment - from semi-trailers to tanks. Similarly, the mobility of these cargoes requires an adapted railway network. We are actively cooperating with @AizsardzibasMin to adapt both the existing railway and port infrastructure, as well as to incorporate specific solutions for military mobility needs into the future @RailBaltica infrastructure, creating cargo unloading ramps on both banks of the Daugava, several transshipment points and terminals, a connection to the port, and other solutions. The best time to do all this was at least 10 years ago, but the second-best time is to do it now.

🇺🇦💪 https://t.co/BN1tNYW7HH

Last airline out, first one back in – proud to support @airBaltic commitment to resume flights to Ukraine as soon as safety permits. Efforts underway to secure approval from @EASA. 🇱🇻🇺🇦

We are pushing to the government a Rail Baltica scenario that provides for connections to both Riga stations - so that the first Rail Baltica high-speed train would enter both Riga Airport and Riga Central Station. When taking office as minister, I received as Latvia's baseline scenario a map created during Vitenbergs' (NA) time, where the Rail Baltica route passes by Riga without connecting any of Latvia's two future international stations. I immediately rejected this scenario. From the very first day I called on both Rail Baltica implementers and Latvian Railways @VAS_LDZ to sit at the same table to jointly find an optimized solution that would allow Riga to be integrated already by 2030. We found a cheaper and better solution for connecting the two Riga stations - not expensive and complex tunnels, but building a 1435mm track in the existing 1520mm railway corridor. Our plan for Rail Baltica will reduce the initially required investments by almost 35% - by several billion euros. However, we do not plan to abandon any section of the Rail Baltica route. Work will also continue on the future connection between Riga Central Station and Upeslejas, so that a few years later the Riga and Tallinn connection would be even faster for passengers. This connection is technically possible to build already by 2032 if funding is available. At the same time, together with @aizsardzibasmin we have started more active work on improving military mobility solutions. Rail Baltica is a critically important link for Latvia with our allies in the West, and it will help ensure faster cargo deliveries to the Baltics within NATO and the EU. In the government report we envisage concrete activities to promote military mobility. Securing funding for the Rail Baltica project is a joint effort of the entire government, which must be coordinated by the Ministry of Finance. The Ministry of Transport will do its homework - we have already found funding in our EU funds envelope to redirect to complete the started construction works of Riga Central Station. For the successful implementation of the project, CEF funding alone will not be enough - it will be necessary to combine different types of funding, for example, using the military mobility fund, ANM funding and other EU fund sources, as well as public-private partnership opportunities. However, we must not hesitate. Already now, 2030 for Phase 1 implementation is an extremely ambitious scenario that we can only realize if all institutions cooperate closely and do not allow further delays. The soonest possible decisions in the government will strengthen Latvia's position not only in the current CEF10 funding call, but also in the upcoming EU multiannual budget negotiations.

The US Congress has approved $228 million in funding for Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania under the Baltic Security Initiative for 2024, which will be directed to the development of military capabilities.

The noose is tightening.

Great interview with @AndisKudors about Russia and more