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Latvia

Latvia is a country located in the Baltic region of northern Europe, bordered by Estonia, Russia, Lithuania and Belarus. Its capital and largest city is Riga.

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All Content on this topic

EU Foreign Ministers meeting in Riga, Latvia

EU reluctant to impose new Russia sanctions

Following talks in Latvia, EU foreign ministers have shown little sign of stepping up pressure on Russia over Ukraine.
March 7, 2015
NATO maneuver Steadfast Javelin II in Latvia (Photo: EPA/VALDA KALNINA)

Russia's uneasy neighbor

A DW correspondent gauges the mood in a Latvia, where some experts fear Russian intrusion.
February 13, 201509:11 min
Military manouvres in Latvia, a soldier plays war games.

Beefing up Latvian defense

Gederts Gelzis reports on Latvia's plans to increase its defense forces as part of NATO.
February 12, 201505:16 min
Edgars Rinkevics. (Photo: Felix Zahn/dpa)

'Ukraine needs assistance now'

Latvia's foreign minister Rinkevics doesn't fully rule out weapons supply to Ukraine, he tells DW.
February 7, 2015
Merkel in Davos 22.01.2015

Quo Vadis, Europe?

The ECB's bond-buying program and the election in Greece dominated the agenda in Davos.
January 22, 2015
EU-Ratsvorsitzender Donald Tusk in Lettland 9.1.2015

Tusk pushes airline data sharing

European Council President Donald Tusk has urged the EU's parliament to agree to the sharing of airline passenger data
January 9, 2015
Euro-Einführung in Litauen

A Baltic example

Southern European countries could learn from the Baltic example, says Christoph Hasselbach.
January 3, 2015
Belgien Nato-Hauptquartier in Brüssel Flaggen

NATO prepares 'spearhead'

NATO, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announces "spearhead" to ward off Russia.
December 1, 2014
Lettland Premierministerin Laimdota Straujuma Wahlen 4.10.2014

Latvia's center-right wins

Preliminary results of Latvia's election point to a win by the governing center-right coalition. A pro-Russian opposition party scored strongly in a poll dominated by relations with neighboring Russia.
October 5, 2014
Lettland Parlamentswahl 04.10.2014

Comfortable win projected for Latvia's center-right

Latvia's ruling coalition has won the country's general election, according to exit polls. The center-right grouping was projected a resounding majority in a vote overshadowed by fears about resurgent neighbor Russia.
October 4, 2014
Ballots are seen in a ballot box during Latvia's parliamentary elections in Riga October 4, 2014. REUTERS/Ints Kalnins

Parliamentary vote in Latvia

Latvia is holding parliamentary elections that are likely to see its center-right coalition returned to power. However, many Latvians fear a strong showing by a party supported by Russophones in the country.
October 4, 2014
A poll station in Riga, Latvia

Latvian vote overshadowed by Russian questions

Latvia, the EU country with the largest population of ethnic Russian, elects a new parliament this Saturday - and it votes largely along ethnic lines. Amplifying the differences are events in eastern Europe.
October 3, 2014
NATO summit site

At a loss

NATO draws a red line for Russia but remains undecided, says DW's Christian F. Trippe.
September 6, 2014
Angela Merkel press conference 03.09.2014 Berlin

Merkel's European tightrope

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has ruled out permanently stationing NATO troops in Eastern Europe. She said that the alliance will defend the Baltic states, while upholding its treaty obligations with Russia.
September 3, 2014
Barack Obama mit Toomas Hendrik PK 03.09.2014 Tallinn

More US troops to Baltics

The US will station more troops and aircraft to the Baltics, the US President Barack Obama has announced. His visit is aimed at reassuring nerves over Russia's actions in Ukraine.
September 3, 2014
NATO US troops landing in Baltic 26 .April 2014

Russia warns NATO

Russia views the prospect of a permanent NATO military presence in Eastern Europe as a major threat, according to a senior Kremlin official. The Western alliance has announced plans to beef up its defense strategy.
September 2, 2014
Riga skyline at night

The Baltic success story

How the Baltic States managed to shed their Soviet past to become European.
PoliticsAugust 23, 2014
caribbean reef

Living Planet: An Octopus's Garden

Caribbean corals are declining at an alarming rate but local efforts to replant them artificially are proving successful. And loom bands: while they may be popular, are they another environmental nightmare? Producer & presenter: Charlotta Lomas Studio director: Eliane Guilarducci Studio technician: Jürgen Kuhn
August 21, 201429:59 min
Uldis Mors

Cleaning up the Baltic Sea

In Latvia, litter can be found along the coasts, while waste from industry and agriculture seep into the water. But local environmentalist Uldis Mors is determined to remind people of the beauty of the 500 kilometer shore.He organizes a special group expedition in the hope it will raise awareness about the fragile ecosystem, and persuade participants the shore is worth protecting.
August 21, 201404:49 min
Lettland Deutschland Bundeskanzlerin Angela Merkel in Riga

Send NATO, Latvia asks Merkel

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has pledged greater NATO solidarity with its Baltic members on a flying visit to Latvia. However, she again rejected the prospect of permanently establishing NATO bases in the region.
August 18, 2014
Container ship in Southampton

Superior UK growth

The British economy has grown faster than the gross domestic products of the vast majority of eurozone nations. The national statistics office reported a pace of expansion not seen in over six years.
August 15, 2014
two fingers and a flower

Living Planet: The Engagement Party

On this week's edition of Living Planet, we’re getting engaged to climate change action.
August 14, 201429:59 min
beach

Motivating the disengaged

In a recent poll, just 12 per cent of Latvians say climate change should be a priority for the government. The number of people who put climate protection above swift economic growth for their country has almost halved in the past seven years. But there are some Latvians trying motivate the rest.
August 14, 201404:38 min
Uldis Mors

Generation Change

Uldis Mors wants to draw attention to the pollution problem on Latvia's Baltic Sea coastline.
Nature and EnvironmentAugust 12, 201404:50 min

Cemetery celebrations in Latvia

Gederts Gelzis reports on the Latvian tradition of "Cemetery celebrations".
August 7, 201405:26 min
Dürre in Kalifornien

Living Planet: Curbing food waste

Farmers fight food waste using social media, vacant urban spaces become productive gardens, new technology for efficient farming and a mysterious lake emerges in Tunisia’s desert.
August 7, 201429:59 min
Strände in Europa (Bildergalerie)

Encouraging climate protection

In a recent poll, just 12 per cent of Latvians say climate change should be a priority for the government. The number of people who put climate protection above swift economic growth for their country has almost halved in the past seven years. But there are some Latvians trying motivate the rest.
August 7, 201404:38 min
Lettland Schweinepest Ausbruch von Schweinepest an der Grenze zu Russland und Weißrussland

Swine fever reaches Poland

Poland has confirmed its first ever cases of African swine fever in domestic pigs, a day after Latvia reacted to similar scares. Imports of Polish pork have already been banned by China, the world's biggest pig breeder.
July 24, 2014
A symbolic picture of communism and red square.

Taking over in Latvia?

Latvians are worried about increasing Russian influence in Latvia through Russian speaking NGOs
June 13, 201405:17 min
Malta

Penultimate day at Euro polls

Latvia, Malta and Slovakia are voting on the penultimate day of the European elections. Over four days, about 388 million people from 28 countries are eligible to vote for the 751 members of the European Parliament.
May 24, 2014
Andris Vilks

More NATO for Latvia

Latvia's finance minister has called for permanent NATO military bases in the Baltic state.
May 21, 2014
Riga

'Non-citizens' in Latvia

Many ethnic Russians living in Latvia for decades still don't have passports.
May 1, 2014

Latvia and the KGB

Latvia is about to vote on whether secret KGB files should be published in 2018.
May 1, 201405:37 min
Krisjanis Karins Photo: AP Photo/Keystone, Lukas Lehmann

Baltic worries

Former Latvian Minister of Economics Krisjanis Karins approves of the increased NATO presence.
PoliticsApril 17, 2014
A picture of NATO warships on maneuver in the Baltic Sea.

Baltic defenses

The Baltic states are busy shoring up their defenses in response to events in Ukraine.
March 28, 201405:18 min
Kai-Olaf Lang from the German Institure for International and Security Affairs

'Baltic states are concerned'

Political scientist Kai-Olaf Lang tells DW that the Baltic states' fears of Russian aggression.
March 23, 2014

Russian militarism stirs bad memories in Latvia

Russia’s stance over Ukraine has stirred strong emotions in the Baltic States. Hundreds of Latvians have protested over the past few weeks to express their outrage over Moscow's action. Senior politicians in Latvia have also condemned the Kremlin’s hostile behaviour towards a sovereign European state. Latvia is a member of the European Union and NATO. From Riga, Gederts Gelzis reports.
March 14, 201405:02 min
Panorama Riga

Cyber Defence Unit launch

The Latvian government hired 13 volunteer cyber guards to help set up its Cyber Defence Unit.
March 4, 2014

Meet Latvia's cyber guards

Latvia is beefing up its cyber security. It's recruiting its first team of voluntary cyber warriors, who will become the Cyber Defense Unit. It's part of the country's National Guard. But unlike the real army, the cyber corps faces an invisible enemy.
ScienceFebruary 24, 201405:49 min

Latvia E-Class ad blocker

It's a cliché David and Goliath story, involving a Latvian teenager, an IT company, and a public uproar. The teenager's web browser extension was only meant to make his school management system, E-Class, more convenient.
ScienceFebruary 3, 201405:49 min
Photo showing Riga's new National Library

Riga launches year of culture

The Latvian capital, Riga, is kicking off its year as a European Capital of Culture with a number of events. Organizers hope that the title will bring hundreds of thousands more tourists to the Baltic city.
January 21, 2014
Euro and lat coins and bills on a table in Latvia.

Latvia pockets euro change

Latvia has become the 18th member of the euro currency bloc. The EU approved its bid in the summer after the Baltic nation bounced back from recession to record impressive growth.
December 31, 2013
Riga illuminated at night in a purple-lit installation. Copyright: DW / Silke Bartlick

Musical tradition

From opera to gardens, Riga seeks to dazzle its own residents.
December 30, 2013
Riga Kulturhauptstadt 2014

Visit Riga

Visit Riga
December 27, 201314 images
Russian Iskander missiles during a military parade in Moscos

Russian missiles cause concern

The United States, Poland and three Baltic states have all voiced concern at reported missile deployment by Russia in its exclave of Kaliningrad. Washington urged Moscow not to increase political tensions in the region.
December 16, 2013
Mexican Alejandro Salas (photo: ORLANDO SIERRA/AFP/GettyImages)

Fighting corruption

Syria and Spain lost out at perceived corruption levels, Transparency International says.
December 3, 2013

Latvia fails Hepatitis C sufferers

Hepatitis C is one of the most infectious diseases in the world, and can lead to liver failure and liver cancer. In Lativa, around 40,000 people suffer from it and they're struggling to pay for the drugs they need to combat the infection.
ScienceDecember 2, 201305:41 min

Fallout resounds in Latvia

Following the fatal roof collapse at a Riga supermarket, Latvian Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis made a surprise move and handed in his resignation. Dombrovskis is the only politician in the country who has taken political responsibility for the tragedy. But as Gederts Gelzis reports from Riga, not everyone thinks that it was the right thing to do.
December 1, 201303:22 min
Two people weep and another looks on outside a building. Photo:Mindaugas Kulbis

Resounding fallout

Latvia's prime minister has resigned in the wake of a roof cave-in at a Riga shopping mall.
November 27, 2013
Latvia's Interior Minister Rihards Kozlovskis (L), Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis (C) and a senior emergency services official speak to the media near the collapsed c in Riga November 21, 2013. Six people, including two firefighters, were killed and dozens more were feared trapped after the roof of the busy supermarket in Latvia's capital, Riga, collapsed on Thursday evening, a rescue official said. REUTERS/Ints Kalnins (LATVIA - Tags: DISASTER POLITICS BUSINESS MEDIA)

Latvia PM resigns over collapse

Latvia's prime minister has resigned after accepting political responsibility for the collapse of a supermarket roof that killed 54 people. His resignation comes as Latvia is due to join the eurozone in January.
November 27, 2013