On April 23, the book „Latvia and the United States: a New Chapter in the Partnership” was simultaneously presented both in Latvia and the US. Its authors highlight, as especially positive process, the so far successful cooperation between the US and Latvia in security sphere, though stressing that there still exist unused possibilities in the fields of education and science, as well as energy and overall economy. Although Latvia is a small country, the cooperation promotion is to a high degree dependent on the very our activity.
The research has been carried out by the Centre for East European Policy Studies (CEEPS) with the participation of a broad circle of experts including Paul Goble, writer and analyst, Damon Wilson, Vice-president of the Atlantic Council (the US), Airis Rikveilis, expert in security policy issues, Reinis Aboltins, researcher at the Centre for Public Policy Providus, Andris Spruds, Director of Latvian Institute of International Affairs, Ainars Lerhis, Chairman of the board, and Andis Kudors, Executive director of CEEPS, etc. The editor of the research is Ivars Indans, political scientist and candidate for a doctor’s degree at the University of Latvia Faculty of Economics and Management.
The research states that, although the attention of the US toward the Central and Eastern Europe has decreased because of the global changes ongoing in the world, the research authors both in Latvia and the US have detected a number of interaction points where the cooperation can be not only maintained, but also expanded and deepened.
R.Aboltins emphasizes that the two countries’ partnership in energy field has a large potential for the future which may be expressed in provision of technologies, exchange of competence, as well as investments in Latvian energy sector.
A.Rikveilis indicates that, although Western Europe is increasingly considering the reduction of the US’s military presence, the Baltic countries still strongly rely on the NATO security guarantees where the US plays an irreplaceable role.
In the US Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), the research was presented by the CEEPS’s Executive director A.Kudors with the participation of Latvian Ambassador to the US Andrejs Pildegovich and various US researchers. CSIS is presently the most prestigious US’s foreign policy think tank.
The research has been carried out with the support on the part of Rietumu Bank’s Charity Fund, American Latvian Association, Freeport of Riga and Latvian Embassy to the US.
The research is available here.
