Washington praises Latvia’s “willingness to engage with Belarus” on irregular migration
October 7, Pozirk. US State Secretary Marco Rubio has expressed support for Latvia amid tensions at its border with Belarus, commending Riga’s “willingness to engage with Minsk” on the issue of irregular migrants.
In an official letter to Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže, who shared its photograph on X, Rubio says that the United States recognizes the “serious security challenge that illegal migration poses to Latvia and to regional security.”
“The United States appreciates your commitment to control your national borders and your willingness to engage with Belarusian authorities on this issue,” Rubio says. “Thank you for engaging with my team responsible for Belarusian affairs and with Special Presidential Envoy (SPE) for Belarus John Coale. I understand you and SPE Coale had a very productive conversation where you discussed illegal migration.”
A major incident occurred at the Latvian border on Tuesday evening, when a group of masked gunmen attempted to push 20 migrants into the Latvian territory, shouting threats at Latvian border guards. Several hours later, masked individuals crossed the Latvian border from Belarus, damaged a relay cabinet and stole surveillance cameras before retreating to the Belarusian territory.
Latvia’s Interior Minister Jānis Dombrava condemned the incident at a “demonstrative and aggressive provocation.” Minsk “should realize that such incidents may result in more serious consequences for Belarus,” he warned.
The neighboring European Union countries have recorded almost 14,100 attempts by undocumented third-country foreigners at irregular entry from Belarus this year, with 11,900 attempts targeting Latvia, according to Pozirk’s analysis of border guards’ data.
On August 10, Latvia launched a special operation to minimize the irregular activity. Initially scheduled to end on September 1, the operation was extended until the end of 2026.
The flow of people eager to cross into the EU surged in spring 2021 after Alaksandar Łukašenka, angered by EU sanctions, had indicated that Minsk would not prevent asylum seekers from Africa and Asia from using Belarus as a route to the EU.
In June 2021, the Belarusian government suspended a readmission agreement with the EU in response to sanctions that followed the forced landing of a Ryanair flight in Minsk.
Latvia, Lithuania and Poland call the migration crisis a “hybrid attack” orchestrated by Minsk and Moscow.
Latvia’s interior minister warns Minsk after standoff involving armed men and border guards
October 7, Pozirk. Latvia’s Interior Minister Jānis Dombrava accused Belarus of staging a “demonstrative and aggressive provocation” on the shared border in a post on X last evening after border guards did not allow a group of 20 undocumented foreigners …
