Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Baltic States

28/05/2026

🇱🇻 | Latvia’s New Cabinet of Ministers
Approved by the Saeima

A new Cabinet was formed after Prime Minister Evika Siliņa resigned on 14 May 2026.

🏛️ The crisis followed the dismissal of Defence Minister Andris Sprūds, after drone-related security incidents raised concerns about Latvia’s defence readiness.

The new Cabinet was approved by the Saeima and is expected to work until the parliamentary elections in October 2026.

🪖 The Cabinet will focus on security, defence, border protection and national resilience, while also addressing budget discipline, competitiveness and key infrastructure projects.

The coalition includes the United List, the National Alliance, the Union of Greens and Farmers, and New Unity — 66 seats in total.

21/05/2026

🔵 This year’s Lithuanian–German Forum took place in Bremen, with a focus on security and defence policy, as well as cooperation in the defence industry.

A clear message emerged from the discussions: Europe needs to act more strategically. Procurement remains too slow, and defence capabilities must be strengthened by making better use of civilian industry. Deterrence also starts with mindset – political will and credibility matter.

💬 On practical defence cooperation, the Lithuanian side highlighted its strength in niche technologies and stressed that cooperation should come before competition.

Sincere thanks to Defence Committee Chair Thomas Röwekamp MdB for bringing the forum to Bremen, and to IHK Bremen and Bremerhaven for hosting the event.

🤝 Special thanks also to Žygimantas Pavilionis for his continued work to turn Lithuanian–German cooperation into concrete action.

20/05/2026

💬 At the beginning of May, Goethe-Institut Riga hosted a reading and discussion with Latvian writer Inga Žolude.

In her novel “Tēvs”, Žolude reconstructs the memories of her father, who was suffering from Alzheimer’s, weaving them together with the history of “Homo sovieticus” and the traumas of the 20th century.

🖋️ The evening opened a broader conversation on memory, identity and the ways in which political systems, family histories and social narratives shape what we remember. It also invited parallels between Soviet and East German experiences of socialisation and coming to terms with the past. The discussion continued with questions from the audience and reflections on how societies and individuals confront difficult histories.

We thank all participants for their interest, as well as the interpreters for their support throughout the event.

18/05/2026

🔵 Country report | Evika Siliņa resigns: Latvia's primary election period begins with government crisis

After weeks of growing tension within the coalition and increasing political pressure following the drone incidents in Latgale, Prime Minister Evika Siliņa has announced her resignation — opening an uncertain phase in Latvian politics just months before the parliamentary elections on 3 October.

💬 The resignation raises broader questions about the next government's stability, security policy, and the direction of the upcoming elections.

Read more at www.kas.de

18/05/2026

🔵 This year, we attended the Lennart Meri Conference (International Centre for Defence and Security - ICDS) in Tallinn – one of the region’s key annual gatherings for foreign, security and defence policy discussions.

At a time when Europe’s security environment remains under serious pressure, formats like this are essential for bringing together political decision-makers, experts and partners for open and honest exchange.

💬 The discussions in Tallinn underlined once again that security in our region cannot be taken for granted. Russia’s war against Ukraine, hybrid threats, societal resilience, transatlantic cooperation and Europe’s ability to act with greater strategic clarity all remain central questions for Estonia, Germany and the wider Baltic region. These conversations matter because they help turn shared concerns into practical cooperation and long-term political commitment.

During the conference, we also had the opportunity to meet with Estonia’s Foreign Minister, the Estonian Ambassador to Germany and the German Ambassador to Estonia. The exchange highlighted the close partnership between Estonia and Germany, as well as the importance of continued dialogue between allies who share the same commitment to freedom and democracy.

📷: Lennart Meri Conference | International Centre for Defence and Security - ICDS

14/05/2026

🔵 It was a pleasure to welcome Marion Walsmann from the European Parliament with a delegation from Erfurt. We are especially pleased to strengthen ties with Erfurt — Vilnius’ partner city.

During the meeting, Lithuania’s foreign and security policy priorities were presented and growing strategic partnership between Lithuania and Germany was discussed.

🇪🇺 The key themes of our discussion were freedom and courage, values that have to remain at the heart of Europe’s future!

13/05/2026

🇩🇪 Today we welcomed a group of visitors from Germany to our office.

Oliver Morwinsky introduced the guests to Latvia’s recent history and highlighted the important role of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung in the Baltic states, especially in light of the security policy developments of recent years.

🇱🇻 The visit concluded with a discussion and a Q&A session about Latvia’s current political situation and the close cooperation between Latvia and Germany.

We thank the group for the valuable exchange!

11/05/2026

🔵 Today’s discussion asked a timely question: what does it take for Latvia to remain secure, cohesive, and future-ready in an increasingly uncertain environment?

The event brought together two important perspectives. Dmitri Teperik presented the Baltic States resilience measurement study, sharing comparative insights on perceived threats, trust, well-being, hope, distress, and readiness to support others in times of crisis.

💬 These findings were then placed in a broader long-term perspective through the University of Latvia’s work on the Latvia 2050 Development Strategy, linking resilience with human capital, governance, competitiveness, regional development, technology, security, and social cohesion.

The main takeaway – in the Baltic region, resilience is not a distant or abstract concept. It is part of how societies understand security, preparedness, and the ability to stand together under pressure. Measuring resilience helps us better understand where societies are strong, where vulnerabilities remain, and how evidence can support smarter decisions for the future.

🤝 Thank you to Latvian Transatlantic Organisation, Latvijas Universitāte, and the State Chancellery for coming together and organizing this important exchange between research, policy, and strategic planning.

09/05/2026

🇪🇺 Happy Europe Day!

Today we celebrate the values that keep Europe united - democracy, freedom, solidarity and cooperation across borders.

🌟 Here in Latvia, we marked Europe Day together with our colleagues at the German tent. Visitors of all ages and backgrounds stopped by to test their knowledge about Germany, the history of the European Union, European politics and much more.

Thank you to everyone who came by, took part and said hello. Europe is built through moments like these - by celebrating together!

05/05/2026

🌍 Europe’s security environment is becoming increasingly volatile: Russia’s continued military build-up, hybrid threats against NATO partners, instability in the Middle East, and shifting global power dynamics are all testing Europe’s ability to act.

At the XIII Adenauer Conference, German Federal Foreign Minister Dr Johann Wadephul MdB will discuss Germany’s foreign and European policy priorities, Europe’s strategic independence, and the partnerships needed in times of global uncertainty.

👇 Join the livestream:

📅 May 6, 2026
🔴 14:00 CET
🔗 Watch live:

13th Adenauer Conference on the Role of Germany in International Politics