The foreign relations of Latvia are primarily managed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The modern Republic of Latvia considers itself a continuation of the 1918–1940 Latvian state. After declaring the restoration of full independence on August 21, 1991, Latvia joined the United Nations on September 17, 1991, and has since become a signatory to numerous UN organizations and international agreements. On June 3, 2025, Latvia was elected to the United Nations Security Council by the General Assembly.
Latvia actively pursues deeper integration and cooperation with NATO, the European Union (EU), the OECD, and other Western organizations. It also seeks to expand its role in UN peacekeeping missions worldwide.
Latvia is a member of several international organizations, including:
Council of Europe (CoE) International Council for the Exploration of the Sea International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) International Criminal Court (ICC) World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF), and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) North Atlantic Coordinating Council (NACC) CERCO
In a nationwide referendum on September 20, 2003, Latvians voted in favor of joining the European Union. Latvia officially became an EU member state on May 1, 2004. It also joined NATO on March 29, 2004.
On April 11, 2024, Latvia signed a 10-year security agreement with Ukraine. Multilateral Organization Formal Relations BeganNotes See 2004 enlargement of the European Union Latvia joined the European Union as a full member on 1 May 2004. Latvia joined NATO as a full member on 29 March 2004. Diplomatic relations List of countries which Latvia maintains diplomatic relations with: # Country Date1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 2223 24 25 26 27 – 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 – 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146147148149150151–152153154155156157158159160161162163164165166167168169170171172173174175176177178179180181182183184185186187188189190191
Relations by country
Americas Country Formal Relations Began Notes 1921-01-26, 1991-08-26See Canada–Latvia relations Both countries re-established diplomatic relations on September 3, 1991. Canada has an embassy in Riga. Latvia has an embassy in Ottawa and 2 honorary consulates in Quebec and Toronto. Both countries are full members of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and of NATO. 1922-07-08, 1995-07-19Colombia counts with an honorary consulate in Riga. Latvia counts with an honorary consulate in Bogotá and is represented by the German embassy in Colombia for consular services only. Colombia recognized Latvia as an independent country after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.27 November 1991See Latvia–Mexico relations Latvia is accredited to Mexico from its embassy in Washington, D.C., United States, and maintains an honorary consulate in Mexico City. Mexico is accredited to Latvia from its embassy in Stockholm, Sweden and maintains an honorary consulate in Riga. 1922-07-28See Latvia – United States relations The U.S. Legation in Riga was officially established on November 13, 1922 and served as the headquarters for U.S. representation in the Baltics during the interwar era. The Soviet invasion forced the closure of the legation on September 5, 1940, but Latvian representation in the United States has continued uninterrupted for 85 years. The U.S. Embassy in Latvia is located in Riga.
Asia Country Formal Relations Began Notes 22 August 1992See Armenia–Latvia relations Armenia is represented in Latvia through its embassy in Warsaw (Poland). Latvia is represented in Armenia through a non-resident ambassador based in Riga (at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs) and through an honorary consulate in Yerevan. Latvia recognized the Armenian genocide in 2021. Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs about relations with Armenia 1994-01-11See Azerbaijan–Latvia relations
Azerbaijan has an embassy in Riga. Latvia has an embassy in Baku. Both countries are full members of the Council of Europe and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). Both countries were former republics of the Soviet Union. Azerbaijan recognized the independence of Latvia on 30 August 1991. Latvia recognized the independence of Azerbaijan on 8 January 1992. Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs about relations with Azerbaijan See China–Latvia relations China has an embassy in Riga. Latvia has an embassy in Beijing. In June 2020, Latvia openly opposed the Hong Kong national security law 2004-10-15 Iraq recognized the independence of Latvia on January 1, 1992. In 2005, a project entitled Latvian Government's Assistance to Iraq in the Documentation of Architectural and Archaeological Objects with Photogrammetric Methods was implemented.la Latvia's participation in the Iraq War commenced in May 2003. At their peak the number of Latvian soldiers in Iraq was 126. They were withdrawn on November 8, 2008. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia: Iraq 1992-01-06See Israel–Latvia relations Israel recognized Latvia's independence on September 4, 1991. Israel has an embassy in Riga. Latvia has an embassy in Tel Aviv and 2 honorary consulates (in Ashdod and Eilat). There are 9,000 Jews living in Latvia (see History of the Jews in Latvia). Both countries are full members of the Union for the Mediterranean. 10 October 1991See Japan–Latvia relations Latvia has an embassy in Tokyo. Japan has an embassy in Riga. 1992-12-30See Kazakhstan–Latvia relations Kazakhstan recognised Latvia's independence on December 23, 1991. Latvia recognised the independence of Kazakhstan on January 8, 1992. Kazakhstan is represented in Latvia through its embassy in Vilnius (Lithuania) and though an honorary consulate in Riga. Latvia has an embassy in Astana and an honorary consulate in Almaty. Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the relation with Kazakhstan1993-03-18Both countries established diplomatic relations on March 18, 1993. Both countries are full members of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. Latvia doesn't have any embassy in Malaysia. while Malaysian embassy in Helsinki is accredited to Latvia.1991-10-22See Latvia–South Korea relations
The establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Korea and Latvijas Republika began on 1991-10-22. The two countries have good relations. Deputy Minister for Political Affairs Lee Kyung-soo visited to the Latvia in December 2018 and attended a plaque-hanging ceremony of the Republic of Korea embassy in Riga which is the Republic of Korea's first permanent mission in the Baltic region and a reception to celebrate the opening of the embassy. Latvian embassy and an Honorary Consuls in Seoul. South Korean embassy in Latvia. 1923See Latvia–Taiwan relations Both countries had relations from 1923 to 1991. The Republic of China (Taiwan) never recognized the de jure incorporation of Latvia into the Soviet Union. 1994-05-11Both countries established diplomatic relations on May 11, 1994. Both countries are full members of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. See Latvia–Turkey relations Latvia has an embassy in Ankara. Turkey has an embassy in Riga. Both countries are full members of the Council of Europe and NATO.
Europe Country Formal Relations Began Notes16 February 1928, 22 April 1992See Albania–Latvia relations Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1928, which were restored in 1992. Albania is represented in Latvia by its embassy in Warsaw, Poland. Latvia is represented in Albania by its embassy in Rome, Italy and an honorary consulate in Tirana. Both countries have a number of bilateral agreements. Austria has an embassy in Riga. Latvia has an embassy in Vienna. Both countries are full members of the European Union. Belgium is accredited to Latvia from its embassy in Stockholm, Sweden. Latvia has an embassy in Brussels. Both countries are full members of the European Union and NATO. 1922-05-24, 1991-09-10See Bulgaria–Latvia relations Bulgaria is represented in Latvia through its embassy in Warsaw (Poland) and through an honorary consulate in Riga. Latvia is represented in Bulgaria through its embassy in Warsaw (Poland) and through an honorary consulate in Sofia. Both countries are full members of NATO and of the European Union. See Foreign relations of Croatia Croatia is represented in Latvia through its embassy in Budapest (Hungary). Latvia is represented in Croatia through its embassy in Stockholm (Sweden). Both countries are full members of the European Union and NATO. See Cyprus–Latvia relations Cyprus is represented in Latvia through its embassy in Stockholm (Sweden). Latvia is represented in Cyprus through its embassy in Athens (Greece). Both countries are full members of the European Union. Czech Republic has an embassy in Riga. Latvia has an embassy in Prague. Both countries are full members of the European Union and NATO. See Denmark–Latvia relations Denmark has an embassy in Riga. Latvia has an embassy in Copenhagen. Both countries are full members of the European Union and NATO. 1919-07-21, 1991-09-06See Estonia–Latvia relations Both states share a long common history: before 1918, they were both part of the Russian Empire. They were both re-occupied by the USSR between 1945 and 1991. Both countries established diplomatic relations on January 3, 1992. Estonia has an embassy in Riga. Latvia has an embassy in Tallinn. The two states share 343 km of common borders. 24 September 1919See Finland–Latvia relations Finland recognised Latvia's independence de facto on September 24, 1919, and de jure on January 21, 1921. Finland has an embassy in Riga. Latvia has an embassy in Helsinki and four honorary consulates (in Åland, Satakunta, Kymenlaakso and Oulu). Both countries are full members of the Council of the Baltic Sea States, the European Union, NATO and Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF). 1921-01-26, 1991-08-30See France–Latvia relations France has an embassy in Riga. Latvia has an embassy in Paris. Both countries are full members of the European Union and NATO. See Georgia–Latvia relations See Germany–Latvia relations Germany has an embassy in Riga. Latvia has an embassy in Berlin. Both countries are full members of the European Union and NATO. See Greece-Latvia relations Greece has an embassy in Riga. Latvia has an embassy in Athens. Both countries are full members of the European Union and NATO. See Iceland–Latvia relations Iceland was the first country to recognise the independence of Latvia in August 1991. Both countries re-established diplomatic relations on August 22, 1991. Iceland is represented in Latvia through its embassy in Helsinki (Finland). Latvia is represented in Iceland through its embassy in Oslo (Norway) and an honorary consulate in Reykjavik. Both countries are full members of the Council of the Baltic Sea States, of NATO, and of the Council of Europe. Italy has an embassy in Riga. Latvia has an embassy in Rome. Both countries are full members of the European Union and NATO.10 June 2008See Kosovo–Latvia relations