Latvia, Uzbekistan Hold Political Consultations
Riga and Tashkent delegations met to discuss bilateral ties, economic cooperation, labour mobility and cooperation within international organisations.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in International Relations
Latvia and Uzbekistan held political consultations in Riga on November 3, 2026, covering bilateral relations, economic cooperation, employment and labour mobility, and cooperation within international organisations. The talks followed a previous round held in Tashkent in 2024.
Why it matters
The consultations signal continued diplomatic engagement between the two countries and a shared interest in closer relations between the European Union and Uzbekistan. Both sides also exchanged views on current regional and international developments.
The record documents a formal round of political consultations, the second such round after one in Tashkent in 2024, with no quantified outcomes reported. Specific agreements or measurable commitments from the Riga talks have not been disclosed.
The players
Juris Poikāns
Latvia's Under-Secretary of State-Political Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who led the Latvian delegation and advocated closer cooperation with Uzbekistan within the UN Security Council.
Muzaffar Madrahimov
Uzbekistan's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, who represented Uzbekistan at the Riga consultations.
The details
Juris Poikāns, Under-Secretary of State-Political Director of Latvia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, led the Latvian delegation, while Muzaffar Madrahimov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan, represented Uzbekistan. Poikāns reaffirmed Latvia's commitment to deepening cooperation with Uzbekistan, encouraged closer coordination within the UN Security Council, and emphasised Latvia's support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Timeline
2024: Previous round of political consultations held in Tashkent.
November 3, 2026: Latvia and Uzbekistan hold political consultations in Riga.
Regional Context
Latvia's push for closer ties with Uzbekistan aligns with the European Union's broader engagement strategy toward Central Asia, which both parties explicitly endorsed in Riga. The talks add a bilateral diplomatic channel alongside that multilateral framework.
Closer Latvia-Uzbekistan ties could broaden cooperation on labour mobility and economic exchange, affecting workers and businesses that operate between the two countries. Any resulting agreements would determine how those effects reach everyday residents.
The takeaway
Bilateral consultations such as this one often set the agenda for later cooperation, so their follow-up steps are worth tracking. Readers following Central Asia-Europe relations can watch for announced agreements on labour and economic ties.
Further reading
Explore more coverage in International Relations to see how bilateral consultations like this one fit into wider diplomatic activity.
