Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Helen McEntee (1st R), Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen (2nd R), Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braze (C), Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski (2nd L) and Hungarian Foreign Minister Anita Orban pose for a photo during a wreath-laying ceremony at the Independence Stella monument in Riga, Latvia, Sept. 9, 2026. Latvia hosted a series of European foreign ministers on Wednesday, with NATO's eastern flank security, protection of the European Union's eastern border and continued support for Ukraine high on the agenda, according to the Latvian Foreign Ministry. (Photo by Edijs Palens/Xinhua)
RIGA, Sept. 9 (Xinhua) -- Latvia hosted a series of European foreign ministers on Wednesday, with NATO's eastern flank security, protection of the European Union's eastern border and continued support for Ukraine high on the agenda, according to the Latvian Foreign Ministry.
Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braze received counterparts from the Netherlands, Poland, Hungary, Finland, Ireland, Norway and Croatia. The visits came ahead of the Riga Conference 2026, an annual foreign policy and security forum opening on Thursday.
During Braze's talks with Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen, and Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, a common theme was the funding for the EU's eastern border.
The ministers agreed that the bloc's next long-term budget should provide adequate funding for border infrastructure, technology, military mobility and the capabilities of border and security services, the Latvian Foreign Ministry said.
Support for Ukraine and pressure on Russia also featured prominently in Wednesday's meetings.
The visits highlighted Latvia's push to make the security of the EU and NATO eastern border a broader European priority ahead of the Riga Conference. ■
Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen (L) and her Latvian counterpart Baiba Braze arrive to attend a wreath-laying ceremony at the Independence Stella monument in Riga, Latvia, Sept. 9, 2026. Latvia hosted a series of European foreign ministers on Wednesday, with NATO's eastern flank security, protection of the European Union's eastern border and continued support for Ukraine high on the agenda, according to the Latvian Foreign Ministry. (Photo by Edijs Palens/Xinhua)
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski reacts during a press conference at the Adazi Military Base in Adazi, Latvia, Sept. 9, 2026. Latvia hosted a series of European foreign ministers on Wednesday, with NATO's eastern flank security, protection of the European Union's eastern border and continued support for Ukraine high on the agenda, according to the Latvian Foreign Ministry. (Photo by Edijs Palens/Xinhua)
Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Helen McEntee (1st L), Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen (2nd L), Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braze (C), Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski (2nd R) and Hungarian Foreign Minister Anita Orban take part in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Independence Stella monument in Riga, Latvia, Sept. 9, 2026. Latvia hosted a series of European foreign ministers on Wednesday, with NATO's eastern flank security, protection of the European Union's eastern border and continued support for Ukraine high on the agenda, according to the Latvian Foreign Ministry. (Photo by Edijs Palens/Xinhua)
Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Helen McEntee attends a wreath-laying ceremony at the Independence Stella monument in Riga, Latvia, Sept. 9, 2026. Latvia hosted a series of European foreign ministers on Wednesday, with NATO's eastern flank security, protection of the European Union's eastern border and continued support for Ukraine high on the agenda, according to the Latvian Foreign Ministry. (Photo by Edijs Palens/Xinhua)
Hungarian Foreign Minister Anita Orban attends a wreath-laying ceremony at the Independence Stella monument in Riga, Latvia, Sept. 9, 2026. Latvia hosted a series of European foreign ministers on Wednesday, with NATO's eastern flank security, protection of the European Union's eastern border and continued support for Ukraine high on the agenda, according to the Latvian Foreign Ministry. (Photo by Edijs Palens/Xinhua)
Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braze reacts during a press conference at the Adazi Military Base in Adazi, Latvia, Sept. 9, 2026. Latvia hosted a series of European foreign ministers on Wednesday, with NATO's eastern flank security, protection of the European Union's eastern border and continued support for Ukraine high on the agenda, according to the Latvian Foreign Ministry. (Photo by Edijs Palens/Xinhua)