to the Republic of Latvia

Address by the Ambassador of the United States of America to the Republic of Latvia

John L. Carwile

One hundred years ago, my diplomatic predecessors formally notified their Latvian counterparts of the United States’ decision to recognize Latvia as an independent nation and to establish diplomatic relations. In the century that followed, with all its trials and triumphs, this relationship remained unbroken. The United States never recognized the illegal Soviet occupation of Latvia and never gave up the belief that Latvia would again be free and independent. When the people of Latvia reclaimed their independence in 1991, we were proud to support their efforts to rebuild their institutions and economy, and to help secure their freedoms and prosperity through membership in NATO and the EU.

As we mark the first 100 years of diplomatic relations, the U.S. Embassy in Riga is proud to support this book project, which chronicles a relationship that is stronger and closer than at any point in our shared history.

Today, the United States and Latvia are strategic partners, committed to defending our achievements and ensuring that future generations will have the same personal liberties, human rights, and economic freedoms that we enjoy.

Our relationship has endured because we are willing to fight for the same fundamental democratic ideals to live freely and securely in an independent country, with the power to freely choose our leaders and shape our futures — with the rights to speak, associate, assemble, worship, and pursue our dreams.

Under Article 5 of the NATO Treaty, our armed forces are ready to fight for each other and to defend every inch of NATO territory. Our shared commitment and unity of purpose are critical as we face an array of ongoing challenges to our security and prosperity, including

disinformation, corruption, climate change, social divisions, and most acutely, Russia’s brutal aggression against Ukraine. The people of Latvia know what it is to face a predatory power that brutally violates the sovereignty and territorial integrity of its neighbors. You have confronted this evil before. The United States stands with you in supporting the people of Ukraine as they fight to defend their independence and their democracy.

On behalf of President Biden and the American people, we are proud of what our countries have achieved together over the last 100 years. I am confident that our friendship will only grow stronger over the next 100 years.