Kulbergs rebukes Dombrava: letter to Spain should have been coordinated with Foreign Ministry

Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs (AS) has expressed displeasure over a letter sent by Interior Minister Jānis Dombrava (NA) to Spain concerning the border crisis in Ceuta. Kulbergs said that in the future, such communication with foreign countries must be coordinated with the Foreign Ministry.

In the letter, Dombrava said the events in Ceuta should not be viewed as an isolated incident, but as a problem to be addressed at the European Union level. He also expressed solidarity with Spain and offered technical support within the framework of a common solidarity mechanism. The minister stressed that illegal immigrants must not be legalised, arguing that many countries see risks to Schengen security.

According to LTV’s Panorama programme, the letter was received sensitively in Madrid, with Spanish officials reportedly noting that while their soldiers defend Latvia, Latvia had chosen to attack Spain at a time when it was facing migrant pressure. Dombrava said he had received no official response, though the interior ministers’ meeting was “quite positive or neutral”.

Kulbergs praised Dombrava’s enthusiasm and initiative on border and security issues, but said that this time the initiative went too far. The prime minister explained that the minister may have wanted to share Latvia’s experience in dealing with hybrid threats, but such matters are sensitive internationally and need to be approved by the Foreign Ministry to ensure the government speaks with one voice.

Earlier, it was reported that large numbers of illegal migrants had arrived in Ceuta, Spain’s North African enclave, the previous week. Spain’s interior minister said 72,000 people entered the city of 85,000; at least 72 died. Most have since left Ceuta. Following the crisis, EU interior ministers agreed during a videoconference to step up the fight against migrant smuggling networks, enforce deportations more strictly and improve information exchange.