Editing Latvia (section)

=== Foreign relations ===
{{Main|Foreign relations of Latvia}}
[[File:Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores, Riga, Letonia, 2012-08-07, DD 01.JPG|thumb|right|The building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Riga]]

Latvia is a member of the United Nations, [[European Union]], [[Council of Europe]], [[NATO]], [[Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development|OECD]], [[Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe|OSCE]], [[International Monetary Fund|IMF]], and [[World Trade Organization|WTO]]. It is also a member of the [[Council of the Baltic Sea States]] and [[Nordic Investment Bank]]. It was a member of the [[League of Nations]] (1921–1946). Latvia is part of the [[Schengen Area]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Latvia – EU member country profile {{!}} European Union |url=https://european-union.europa.eu/principles-countries-history/country-profiles/latvia_en |website=european-union.europa.eu |language=en |access-date=19 September 2023 |archive-date=12 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230912051553/https://european-union.europa.eu/principles-countries-history/country-profiles/latvia_en |url-status=live }}</ref> and joined the [[Eurozone]] on 1 January 2014.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Latvia (since 1 January 2014) |url=https://www.ecb.europa.eu/euro/changeover/latvia/html/index.en.html |website=ecb.europa.eu |date=31 January 2023 |last1=Bank |first1=European Central |access-date=19 September 2023 |archive-date=10 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230910104849/https://www.ecb.europa.eu/euro/changeover/latvia/html/index.en.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Latvia has established diplomatic relations with 158 countries. It has 44 diplomatic and consular missions and maintains 34 embassies and 9 permanent representations abroad. There are 37 foreign embassies and 11 international organisations in Latvia's capital [[Riga]]. Latvia hosts one European Union institution, the [[Body of European Regulators of Electronic Communications|Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications]] (BEREC).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.am.gov.lv/en/mission/|title=Diplomatic and Consular Representations|publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs Republic of Latvia|access-date=20 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131201023600/http://www.am.gov.lv/en/mission/|archive-date=1 December 2013}}</ref>

Latvia's foreign policy priorities include co-operation in the Baltic Sea region, European integration, active involvement in international organisations, contribution to European and transatlantic security and defence structures, participation in international civilian and military peacekeeping operations, and development co-operation, particularly the strengthening of stability and democracy in the EU's [[Eastern Partnership]] countries.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mfa.gov.lv/en/policy/|title=Foreign policy|publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs Republic of Latvia|access-date=13 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120428131812/http://www.mfa.gov.lv/en/policy/|archive-date=28 April 2012|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.latvia.eu/content/latvia-today-keystone-baltic |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120912131347/http://www.latvia.eu/content/latvia-today-keystone-baltic |archive-date=12 September 2012 |title=A foreign policy based on co-operation and constructive engagement |publisher=Latvian Institute |access-date=13 May 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5378.htm#foreign|title=Background Note: Latvia|publisher=U.S. Department of State|date=18 November 2011|access-date=13 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170122194450/https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5378.htm#foreign|archive-date=22 January 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Foreign Ministers of Nordic and Baltic countries met in Helsinki, 30.08.2011 (Photographer Eero Kuosmanen).jpg|thumb|Foreign ministers of the Nordic and Baltic countries in Helsinki, 2011]]
Since the early 1990s, Latvia has been involved in active trilateral [[Baltic states]] co-operation with its neighbours [[Estonia]] and [[Lithuania]], and Nordic-Baltic co-operation with the [[Nordic countries]]. Latvia is a member of the interparliamentary [[Baltic Assembly]], the intergovernmental [[Baltic Council of Ministers]] and the [[Council of the Baltic Sea States]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vm.ee/?q=en/node/4096 |title=Estonian Chairmanship of the Baltic Council of Ministers in 2011 |publisher=Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs |access-date=20 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113111112/http://www.vm.ee/?q=en%2Fnode%2F4096 |archive-date=13 November 2013 }}</ref> [[Nordic-Baltic Eight]] (NB-8) is the joint co-operation of the governments of Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden.<ref name="Co-operation of Baltic and Nordic States">{{cite web|url=http://www.mfa.gov.lv/en/eu/BalticSeaRegion/NordicStates |title=Co-operation of Baltic and Nordic States |publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs Republic of Latvia |access-date=13 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120405175147/http://www.mfa.gov.lv/en/eu/BalticSeaRegion/NordicStates/ |archive-date=5 April 2012 }}</ref> Nordic-Baltic Six (NB-6), comprising Nordic-Baltic countries that are European Union member states, is a framework for meetings on EU-related issues. Interparliamentary co-operation between the Baltic Assembly and [[Nordic Council]] was signed in 1992 and since 2006 annual meetings are held as well as regular meetings on other levels.<ref name="Co-operation of Baltic and Nordic States" /> Joint Nordic-Baltic co-operation initiatives include the education programme NordPlus<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nordplusonline.org/eng/nordplus/about_nordplus |title=About Nordplus |publisher=Nordic Council of Ministers |access-date=20 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113110917/http://www.nordplusonline.org/eng/nordplus/about_nordplus |archive-date=13 November 2013 }}</ref> and mobility programmes for public administration,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.norden.ee/en/about-us/funding/mobility-programme-for-public-administration|title=Nordic-Baltic mobility programme for public administration|publisher=Nordic Council of Ministers' Office in Estonia|access-date=20 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113112319/http://www.norden.ee/en/about-us/funding/mobility-programme-for-public-administration|archive-date=13 November 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> business and industry<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nb8businessmobility.org/ |title=Nordic-Baltic Mobility and Network Programme for Business and Industry |publisher=Nordic Council of Ministers' Office in Latvia |access-date=20 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131118051601/http://www.nb8businessmobility.org/ |archive-date=18 November 2013 }}</ref> and culture.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kulturkontaktnord.org/lang-en |title=Nordic Culture Point |publisher=Nordic Council of Ministers |access-date=20 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131118083116/http://www.kulturkontaktnord.org/lang-en |archive-date=18 November 2013 }}</ref> The [[Nordic Council of Ministers]] has an office in Riga.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.norden.lv/en/main|title=Nordic Council of Ministers' Office in Latvia|publisher=Nordic Council of Ministers' Office in Latvia|access-date=20 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131230231742/http://www.norden.lv/en/main|archive-date=30 December 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

Latvia participates in the [[Northern Dimension]] and [[Baltic Sea Region Programme]], European Union initiatives to foster cross-border co-operation in the Baltic Sea region and Northern Europe. The secretariat of the Northern Dimension Partnership on Culture (NDPC) will be located in Riga.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ndpculture.org/blog/nordic-council-of-ministers-is-looking-for-a-senior-adviser-to-run-the-secretariat-of-northern-dimension-partnership-on-culture|title=Nordic Council of Ministers is looking for a Senior Adviser to run the Secretariat of Northern Dimension Partnership on Culture|publisher=Northern Dimension Partnership on Culture (NDPC)|date=6 November 2013|access-date=20 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006152646/http://www.ndpculture.org/blog/nordic-council-of-ministers-is-looking-for-a-senior-adviser-to-run-the-secretariat-of-northern-dimension-partnership-on-culture|archive-date=6 October 2014}}</ref> In 2013 Riga hosted the annual [[Northern Future Forum]], a two-day informal meeting of the prime ministers of the Nordic-Baltic countries and the UK.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.futureforum2013.gov.lv/en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130301194011/http://www.futureforum2013.gov.lv/en/|archive-date=1 March 2013|title=Northern Future Forum|publisher=State Chancellery, Republic of Latvia|access-date=20 November 2013}}</ref> The Enhanced Partnership in Northern Europe or ''e-Pine'' is the [[United States Department of State|U.S. Department of State]] diplomatic framework for co-operation with the Nordic-Baltic countries.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/p/eur/rt/epine|title=Enhanced Partnership in Northern Europe (e-PINE)|publisher=U.S. Department of State|access-date=20 November 2013|archive-date=22 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221022201214/https://2009-2017.state.gov/p/eur/rt/epine/index.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

Latvia hosted the [[2006 Riga summit|2006 NATO Summit]] and since then the annual Riga Conference has become a leading foreign and security policy forum in Northern Europe.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rigaconference.lv/|title=About Rīga Conference|publisher=Rīga Conference|access-date=20 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131108034651/http://www.rigaconference.lv/|archive-date=8 November 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> Latvia held the [[Presidency of the Council of the European Union]] in the first half of 2015.<ref>{{cite web |title=Latvia |url=https://europa.eu/european-union/about-eu/countries/member-countries/latvia_en |website=europa.eu |date=5 July 2016 |publisher=European Union |access-date=9 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612140700/https://europa.eu/european-union/about-eu/countries/member-countries/latvia_en |archive-date=12 June 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Since February 2022 Latvia's relations with Russia have deteriorated to the extent that Latvia withdrew its ambassador from Russia and expelled Russia's ambassador to Latvia in January 2023<ref>{{cite web |title=Estonia and Latvia remove Russian ambassadors as tensions rise |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/estonia-latvia-russia-remove-european-union-tensions-moscow/ |date=23 January 2023 |access-date=25 October 2023 |archive-date=31 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230531001410/https://www.politico.eu/article/estonia-latvia-russia-remove-european-union-tensions-moscow/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and banned Russians from entering Latvia.