Rinkēvičs warns UN Secretary-General about growing risks from Russia

Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs met with United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres in New York on Monday, briefing him on Russia's countermeasures against the Baltic states and other countries supporting Ukraine, which he said are increasing the risk of escalation in the region.

According to Rinkēvičs's communications adviser Mārtiņš Drēģeris, the meeting took place on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly's 81st session, where the presidents of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia jointly discussed pressing security and global issues with Guterres. Topics included Russia's aggression against Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East, regulation of artificial intelligence, and the need for UN reform.

Attacks on civilians and food security

Rinkēvičs condemned Russia for intensifying ballistic missile and drone strikes against civilians and civilian infrastructure in Ukraine. He also stressed that Russian attacks on Ukraine's grain infrastructure pose a serious threat to global food security.

AI regulation and UN reform

The Latvian head of state informed Guterres about a joint initiative by several world leaders to create a mechanism for oversight and regulation of artificial intelligence models. Rinkēvičs said it is important to develop common standards, involving both European countries and smaller states in the process.

The president also reiterated Latvia's position that the UN system needs comprehensive reform to strengthen the organization's ability to carry out its mandates effectively and to improve the UN Security Council's capacity to address global challenges.

Rinkēvičs's meetings at the UN are part of a roughly ten-day working visit to the United States that began last week, which includes several meetings and participation in various events.