Latvia–Turkey relations

Latvia–Turkey relations are the foreign relations between Latvia and Turkey. Bilateral relations between Turkey and Latvia are excellent. Latvia’s NATO allowed both countries to cooperate.

Latvia–Turkey relations

Latvia
Turkey
Diplomatic mission
Latvian Embassy, AnkaraTurkish Embassy, Riga
Envoy
Ambassador Pēteris VaivarsAmbassador Gülsun Erkul[1]

Historical Relations
  • Turkey recognized the independence of Latvia in 1925 and diplomatic relations were established on August 28, 1925.
  • Following the USSR annexation of Latvia in August 1940, Turkey closed its consulate in Riga– in tandem with the United States– on September 5, 1940. Despite the closure of the consulate, Turkey never recognized the Latvia’s annexation and continued diplomatic relations with Latvia and Estonia by conferring diplomatic status on the diplomats that were accredited by the previous Latvian government.
  • Turkey recognized the restoration of Latvia’s independence on September 3, 1991.

Diplomatic Relations

Both countries are members of the Council of Europe United Nations, North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, International Monetary Fund, World Bank and the World Trade Organization.

Country comparison
 Latvia  Turkey
Flag
State Emblem / National Emblem
Population 1,907,675 83,154,997
Area 64,589 km2 (24,938 sq mi) 783,356 km2 (302,455 sq mi)
Population density 29.6/km2 (76.7/sq mi) 105/km2 (271.9/sq mi)
Capital Riga Ankara
Government Unitary parliamentary constitutional republic Unitary presidential constitutional republic
Current Leader President Egils Levits
Prime Minister Arturs Krišjānis Kariņš		 President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
Vice President Fuat Oktay
Official languages Latvian Turkish
Main religions 80.0% Christianity, 18.3% No religion 97.6% Islam, 1.1% Christianity, 0.3% Judaism
Ethnic groups 62.3% Latvians, 24.9% Russians, 3.2% Belarusians 85% Turkish, 9% Kurdish 6% Others
Human Development Index (HDI) 0.854 (very high)[2] — 39th 0.806 (very high)[3] — 59th
GDP (PPP) $63.490 billion ($32,986 per capita) $2.464 trillion[4] ($29,326 per capita)

Presidential Visits
Guest Host Place of visit Date of visit
President Andris Bērziņš President Abdullah Gül Çankaya Köşkü, Ankara April 16-17, 2014[5]
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan President Andris Bērziņš Riga Castle, Riga October 22-23, 2014[6]
Minister of Foreign Affairs Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu Minister of Foreign Affairs Edgars Rinkēvičs Riga Castle, Riga May 16, 2019[7]

Economic Relations
  • Trade volume between the two countries was 398 million USD in 2016 (Turkish exports/imports: 196/202 million USD).[8]

See also

References
  1. "Republic of Turkey Embassy in Riga". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey.
  2. "2019 Human Development Index Ranking | Human Development Reports". hdr.undp.org. Retrieved 2020-08-04.
  3. "2019 Human Development Index Ranking | Human Development Reports". hdr.undp.org. Retrieved 2020-08-04.
  4. "International Monetary Fund, Report on selected countries". International Monetary Fund.
  5. "Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkēvičs: Latvia supports an open political dialogue with Turkey". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia.
  6. "Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkēvičs: Latvia supports an open political dialogue with Turkey". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia.
  7. "Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkēvičs: Latvia supports an open political dialogue with Turkey". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia.
  8. "Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkēvičs: Latvia supports an open political dialogue with Turkey". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia.
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