This article covers the political relationship between India and Latvia: the establishment of diplomatic relations, visits and meetings of heads of state and government, foreign ministers and parliamentarians, the dialogue mechanisms between the two countries, and the agreements they have signed. It is based on the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) brief on India-Latvia relations dated June 2026.

Establishment of relations

According to the MEA brief of June 2026, India recognised Latvia as a sovereign and independent State in 1991, and diplomatic relations were established shortly thereafter, in 1992. The two countries celebrated 30 years of the establishment of diplomatic relations during 2022.

The brief describes India and Latvia as having warm and friendly relations, marked by a broad understanding on issues of mutual interest. It records several high-level visits and interactions over the last three decades.

Heads of state and government

  • In August 2019, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu visited Latvia. He met President Egils Levits and Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš.
  • In March 2019, President Raimonds Vējonis and President Ramnath Kovind had a brief interaction during the Indian President's visit to Croatia.
  • In 2017, Prime Minister Māris Kučinskis visited India, met the Prime Minister of India and attended the 'World Food India 2017' event.
  • In May 2021, Prime Minister of Latvia Arturs Krišjānis Kariņš participated in the India-EU Summit, held virtually, during which he interacted with the Prime Minister of India.

Foreign ministers

The brief lists the following meetings and visits at foreign minister level, most recent first:

  • On 16 March 2026, EAM and Foreign Minister Baiba Braže exchanged notes during EAM's participation at the EU Council's Foreign Ministers' meeting in Brussels.
  • In March 2025, Foreign Minister Baiba Braže visited India, participated in the 10th edition of the Raisina Dialogue and met EAM to discuss issues of bilateral cooperation.
  • In March 2024, the then Foreign Minister of Latvia, Mr. Krišjānis Kariņš, visited India to participate in the Raisina Dialogue and the CII India-Europe Business and Sustainability Conclave, as part of the Nordic-Baltic cooperation (NB8).
  • In May 2023, on the sidelines of the EU Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum, EAM met the then Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkēvičs.
  • In March 2021, EAM and Foreign Minister Rinkēvičs had a telephone conversation.
  • In November 2020, Foreign Minister Rinkēvičs participated in the 1st India-Nordic-Baltic Conclave, held in virtual format.
  • In January 2020, Foreign Minister Rinkēvičs participated in the 5th Raisina Dialogue and met EAM.

Other ministerial visits

In February 2026, Minister for Smart Administration & Regional Development Mr. Raimonds Cudars participated in the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi on behalf of the Latvian Prime Minister, Evika Silina. He also met the Minister of State for Electronics & IT, Mr. Jitin Prasada.

In May 2025, a delegation of Members of Parliament of India led by Ms. Kanimozhi Karunanidhi visited Riga. The delegation held meetings with the Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee and the Friendship Group of Parliamentarians for India, and met Ms. Ingrida Circene, Chairperson of the Parliamentary Group promoting cooperation with the Parliament of India. Earlier, in 2018, the then Speaker of Lok Sabha, Smt. Sumitra Mahajan, visited Latvia.

The Latvian Parliament (Saeima) has a Friendship Group promoting cooperation with the Parliament of India. On the Indian side, the Parliament of India established the India-Baltic Parliamentary Friendship Group to strengthen inter-parliamentary cooperation with Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. It consists of Members of Parliament from both houses, the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, across multiple political parties, and is led by Shri P V Midhun Reddy, Lok Sabha MP from YSRCP.

Dialogue mechanisms

The brief states that the two countries have established mechanisms for exchanging views on bilateral, regional and multilateral issues. These include:

  • Foreign Office Consultations: the 9th Round was held in Riga in November 2025, co-chaired by Mr. Sibi George, Secretary (West), and Mr. Andžejs Viļumsons, State Secretary for Foreign Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia.
  • Multilateral Consultations: the 1st India Latvia Multilateral Consultations were held on 15 December 2025. The Indian delegation was led by Ms. Nabanita Chakrabarti, Joint Secretary (UNP), and the Latvian delegation by Mr. Juris Pekalis, Director General, Directorate of Security Policy and International Organizations.

Agreements

The brief states that a number of agreements on cooperation in various fields have been signed since the establishment of diplomatic relations. Those it lists include:

  • Economic & Technical Cooperation (1995)
  • Cooperation in Culture, Arts, Education, Science, Mass Media and Sports (1995)
  • Air Services Agreement (1997)
  • Establishment of Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, S&T & Culture (2001)
  • Bilateral Investment Protection Agreement (2010)
  • Health (2012)
  • Avoidance of Double Taxation and Tax Evasion (2013)