BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 5. Latvian Foreign
Minister Baiba Braže completed a productive working visit to the
Czech Republic on July 3–4, where she met with high-level Czech
officials and discussed security, defense, economic cooperation,
and cultural ties, Trend reports.

During her visit, Minister Braže held meetings with Czech
Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský, Minister for European Affairs Martin
Dvořák, and Commander of the Czech Armed Forces Karel Řehka. She
also met with Petr Novotný, CEO of Škoda Group, and engaged with
academic staff and students studying Latvian at Charles University
in Prague and Masaryk University in Brno.

“The Czech Republic is a close and reliable ally of Latvia,”
said Minister Braže. “We deeply appreciate its military
contribution to NATO’s presence in Ādaži and its active role in
Baltic airspace defense. Together, we continue to support Ukraine
and strengthen the security of our region through initiatives like
the Drone Coalition and broader European defense cooperation.”

Strengthening Security and Defense
Cooperation:

The ministers positively assessed the outcomes of the recent
NATO summit in The Hague, particularly the landmark agreement to
allocate 5% of national GDP to defense, the continued commitment to
NATO’s Article 5, and joint support measures for Ukraine.

Discussions also focused on the importance of accelerating
Europe’s defense industry development, which not only enhances
security but also drives economic growth, innovation, and job
creation. Both sides agreed on the importance of reinforcing the
EU’s external borders, advancing the EU enlargement process, and
aligning priorities for the next EU Multiannual Financial
Framework.

Expanding Economic Partnerships:

Minister Braže and her Czech counterparts expressed strong
interest in deepening bilateral economic cooperation, with a
particular focus on high-value-added industries, tourism, and space
exploration.

During her meeting with Škoda CEO Petr Novotný, discussions
centered on new collaboration opportunities in the transport
sector. Increasing numbers of regular flights and rising interest
in Riga as a travel destination are expected to fuel further
economic growth and tourism exchange.

Promoting Language and Cultural Ties:

Minister Braže also met with students and faculty involved in
Latvian language studies at leading Czech universities. Currently,
over 20 students are enrolled in Latvian language programs,
highlighting strong educational ties between the two nations.

Latvia and the Czech Republic maintain active cultural and
educational cooperation, fostering deeper connections between their
people.