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At the meeting of Robert Portman and Edgars Rinkevics. Riga, 10.04.2015. Photo: flickr.com

During the meeting, Foreign Minister Rinkevics highly appreciated the U.S. leadership in the context of the reinforcement of NATO collective security in the Baltic region and underscored the necessity for a continuing allied military presence in the Baltic States.

Senator Portman highlighted the U.S.-Latvia strategic partnership and what Latvia has accomplished at the helm of the Council of the European Union. Other issues discussed were possibilities for stabilizing the situation in Ukraine, the fulfillment of the Minsk agreements, and the sanctions policy. The officials also recognized that the improvement of strategic communication capabilities and promotion of media freedom and their quality was one of the key challenges for transatlantic partners.

The minister and the senator also took stock of the progress in the negotiations on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) agreement and concurred that the agreement plays a major geopolitical role.

The officials welcomed the agreement between the E3+3 and Iran on the restriction of Iran’s nuclear program and emphasized that the parties involved should continue working intensively so that a comprehensive plan of action is approved by the end of June.

Robert Portman is a Republican Senator from the State of Ohio. Portman is the founder of the Ukraine Group in the U.S. Senate, and a member of the Finance Committee, Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and Committee on the Budget.