Foreign Policy

Latvian foreign policy is aimed towards becoming a full member of EU and NATO. Latvia has actively sought to achieve this aim by demonstrating its strong commitment to the principles of democracy, the rule of law, and honouring individual civil rights for all residents irrespective of race, creed, or culture. Latvia is orienting itself toward the intensity of global competition in business and to EU standards of quality in industry and services. Latvia was the first Baltic state to join the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in 1998.

Latvia is an active member state of the Council of Baltic Sea States (CBSS), promoting regional co-operation between the states bordering the Baltic sea. It also promotes inter-Baltic co-operation. A free market, including trade in agricultural goods between Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania has been established with the view of creating a Baltic common market even before the Baltic states join the EU.

Defence

Since Latvia regained its independence in August 1991, a process of building national defence legislation and Latvia's National Armed Forces is under way. Military service is compulsory for male citizens from the age of 19 (women and men of 18 and older can join the NAF on the voluntary basis) and the duration of military service is 12 months.

Since summer 1992 when regular meetings of Baltic defence officials started to take