Denmark–Latvia relations

Denmark	Latvia
Diplomatic mission
Embassy of Denmark,Riga	Embassy of Latvia,Copenhagen

Denmark–Latvia relations refers to the historical and current diplomatic relations betweenDenmark andLatvia. Denmark has an embassy inRiga and Latvia has an embassy inCopenhagen.^[1][2]

Denmark recognized and established diplomatic relations with Latvia on 7 February 1921. Diplomatic relations were reestablished on 24 August 1991, during the fall of theSoviet Union.^[3][4] Diplomatic relations have since then been strong and Latvian PresidentUlmanis stated in 2016 that Latvia has considered Denmark a trustworthy ally since 1919.^[5]

In 2022, as a response to theRussian invasion of Ukraine, Denmark sent around 800 soldiers toĀdaži, Latvia and Danish Prime MinisterMette Frederiksen moreover visited Ādaži in May 2022.^[6] Both countries are full members of theEuropean Union,NATO,Nordic-Baltic Eight and theJoint Expeditionary Force.

Danish kings have historically had interests inLivonia (present-day Latvia) since the 13th century. The Danish king and BishopAlbert of Riga reached an agreement toChristianize the region as Denmark had the responsibility to not only Christianize Livonia but alsoCourland,Saaremaa and Estonian seaside territories. As Denmark and the bishop were advancing in their crusade, theTreaty of Stensby was signed in 1238 between Denmark and theState of the Teutonic Order transferring the northern maritimeEstonia to Denmark in exchange for military support for the Teutonic Order in their crusades. Evidence indicate that Danish crusaders participated in battles in present-day Latvia as well. The Danish king sold Estonia with the exceptions of Saaremaa to the Teutonic Order in 1346.^[7]

In 1566,Magnus, Duke of Holstein attempted to reach an agreement with thePolish–Lithuanian Commonwealth to regain the lost territory but failed to do so. He consequently reached an agreement withIvan the Terrible and Magnus was installed as King of theBishopric of Courland. Parts of Estonia was handed over to the brother of KingFrederick II. In 1582, Magnus changed allegiance toStefan Bathory of Poland-Lithuania but refrained from swearing allegiance which meant that Courland was Danish property. After the death of Magnus in 1583, ownership of the territory went toFriedrich Kettler who had strong support from theLutheran locals who did not wish to be under the dominance of theCatholic Poland-Lithuania. This in turn increased tensions between Denmark and Poland-Lithuania and Poland paid Denmark 30.000thalers for the territory.^[8]

Danish volunteers travelled to Latvia and fought on the Latvian side during theLatvian War of Independence from 1918 to 1921.^[9] Officially, Denmark treated the Latvian war very cautiously due to its respect forNicholas II of Russia whose mother had been a Danish princess.^[10]

From 1919 on, Denmark was one of the main channels of communications for theLatvian Provisional Government and many Latvian politicians includingKārlis Ulmanis travelled to Denmark to garner support in Western Europe on 9 January 1919 as theBolsheviks were approaching Latvia. A Latvian representative mission was planned to open in Copenhagen since all communication to the outside world was through Denmark. The consulate general opened in November 1919,^[11] as Denmark also had a consulate in Riga.^[12]

Denmark went on to recognize Latvia and establish diplomatic relations with the country on 7 February 1921, despite critical voices on the nationalization policies by Latvia which had affected Danish possessions in the country.^[13] A Treaty of Commerce and Navigation was signed in November 1924.^[14]

In 1925, whenRoyal Danish Navy ships made an official visit to theFreeport of Riga, newspaperLatvijas Kareivis published an article stating that:"The name of Denmark is for Latvians dear and close to heart – dear because as a small country. Denmark has much in common with Latvia. We regard Danes as our teachers in those areas of economy that make up the foundation for the welfare of our fatherland..."^[12]

Throughout the Cold War, Denmark never recognized the Soviet annexation of Latvia after the1940 occupation.^[15]

Cultural contacts increased in 1989 and 1990, with the Latvian Foreign MinisterJānis Jurkāns visiting Copenhagen on 28 August 1990 to strengthen cultural cooperation. ADanish Cultural Institute office also opened in Riga on 20 December 1990. Politically, Danish Foreign MinisterUffe Ellemann-Jensen held a speech at theUnited Nations in September 1990 expressing a wish to have the three Baltic states as members of the organization. In the months preceding the reestablishment of diplomatic relations,Jurkāns developed closer relations with high-ranking Danish politicians as he met with both Ellemann-Jensen and Prime MinisterPoul Schlüter. On 11 March 1991, a cooperation protocol was signed stating that Denmark had already recognized the independence of Latvia back in 1921. This move provoked a strong reaction from the Soviet Union but Denmark rejected the criticism arguing that the cooperation was in line with international law, with Ellemann-Jensen moreover stating that Denmark would renew diplomatic relations with Latvia as soon as possible.^[17]

During theSoviet coup d'état attempt from 19 to 22 August 1991, Jurkāns travelled to Copenhagen with the intention of forming agovernment in exile, as theSupreme Council of Latvia declared independence on 21 August. Denmark sent a diplomatic note to Latvia on 24 August assuring that it was ready to establish relations with the new republic.^[18] Diplomatic relations were renewed on 24 August 1991 making Denmark the first country to do so.^[4] On 26 August, Jurkāns met QueenMargrethe II in Copenhagen and a joint communiqué with the three Baltic Foreign Ministers were signed same day stating: "This is a decisive moment in the history of the peoples of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. 52 years after the conclusion of the infamous Molotov - Ribbentrop Pact and the subsequent illegal Soviet annexation, a long, dark chapter in Baltic history has finally come to an end. We rejoice at his momentous event."^[19] Danish Foreign Minister Ellemann-Jensen visited Latvia on 9 September to strengthen relations and the Danish embassy in Riga was opened on 2 October 1991. Latvia opened their embassy in Copenhagen on 12 November 1992.^[16] The Danish Queen also visited Latvia in 1992.^[20]

In April 1994, President Ulmanis visited Copenhagen to meet Prime MinisterPoul Nyrup Rasmussen to discuss Latvian relations with Russia as the latter still had troops in Latvia.^[21] During the meeting, the Danish Prime Minister assured Ulamnis that his country would spearheard a European coalition to make Russia withdraw their troops from Latvia.^[22]

In March 1995, Nyrup Rasmussen visited Riga where he met President Ulmanis.^[23] During his March 1997 visit to Denmark where he also met the Queen, Ulmanis pointed out that Denmark was helping Latvia shape its own security policy.^[24]

To prepare ten Eastern European countries for EU membership, Denmark began the FEU program of which Latvia was second in receiving most funds and projects after Lithuania (27% of projects and 23% of committed funds) between the years 1996 to 2000.^[25]

Denmark aided Latvia with 400 millionDKK for various environmental projects from 1991 to 2000 making Denmark the largest donors for the Latvia on the environment. A further 40 million DKK was granted in 2001 for 12 projects. The projects included construction ofwastewater treatment plants, support for the implementation of anBiodiversity action plan, support for chemical control and the implementation ofEU Ambient Air Quality Directive.^[26] In 2003, 25 million DKK was granted for 8 projects as the assistance concluded that same year.^[27]

The assistance was granted to help Latvia fulfill the environmental criteria on EU-membership.^[26]

Defense cooperation is based on the January 1994 agreement on the promotion of military cooperation between the two countries.^[28] In 1995, 32 officials from theLatvian Land Forces received training in Denmark.^[23] Defense cooperation continued throughout the 1990s and Denmark provided significant material support for different projects including reforming theNational Defence Academy of Latvia. In 2003, Latvia began the process of forming aninfantrybrigade with support from Denmark and also sent soldiers toKosovo alongside Danish troops as part of theKosovo Force.^[29] In 2005, Denmark trained Latvianarms control specialists.^[30] In 2022, 750 Danish soldiers arrived in Latvia as a response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.^[6]

Kārlis Ulmanis was the first Latvian President to visit Denmark in 1919.^[11] President Guntis Ulmanis also visited Denmark in March 1997,^[31]Vīķe-Freiberga in 2006,^[32]Valdis Zatlers in 2009,^[33]Raimonds Vējonis and 2017^[34] andEgils Levits in 2021.^[35]

From the Danish side, Danish Prime MinisterHelle Thorning-Schmidt visited Latvia in 2011,^[36]Lars Løkke Rasmussen in 2018^[37] andMette Frederiksen in 2020 and again in 2022.^[38][6]

The following table shows the annual trade numbers between the two countries from 1992 to 2020 ineuro:^[39]

• Denmark has an embassy inRiga.
• Latvia has an embassy inCopenhagen.

• Foreign relations of Denmark
• Foreign relations of Latvia
• Baltic Air Policing
• Operation Saber Strike
• Richard Gustav Borgelin

• Danish Cultural Institute (2021),Ties Through Time: Denmark-Latvia(pdf), p. 36, retrieved18 January 2022
• Kirkebaek, Mikkel (2016),Danish volunteer soldiers in Latvia's war of independence - 1919, p. 31
• Kļaviņš, Didzis (2016),The Role of Denmark in the Renewal of Latvian Independence(PDF)
• Poulsen, Niels Bo; Brask, Hans, eds. (2021),Denmark and Lithuania through 100 years of bilateral relations,Latvia, p. 335,ISBN 978-609-96256-0-7

• Denmark–Latvia relations
• Bilateral relations of Denmark
• Bilateral relations of Latvia

• CS1 Danish-language sources (da)
• CS1 Latvian-language sources (lv)
• CS1 French-language sources (fr)
• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata
• Use dmy dates from April 2025