Spain angered by Latvia's 'arrogant' letter on migrant crisis

Spain reacted negatively to a letter from Latvia concerning the migrant crisis, with reports of an arrogant tone causing offense. Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs has since instructed that all future correspondence with foreign countries must be coordinated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

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And from now on, any appeals to foreign countries must be coordinated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The letter, reportedly from Interior Minister Jānis Dombrava, suggested that the incident in Ceuta was not isolated and required a broader perspective. It emphasized the importance of seeking solutions at the European Union level and strengthening EU internal border security, expressing solidarity with Spain. The letter also highlighted readiness to provide various forms of technical assistance within a "common solidarity mechanism" and stated that illegal migrants should not be legalized, as this could pose wider risks to Schengen Area security.

While Dombrava stated he did not receive a direct response from Spain, he claimed the reaction was positive or neutral during a meeting of interior ministers. However, unofficial information obtained by Latvian Television from reliable sources indicated Spain's dissatisfaction, perceiving the letter's tone as arrogant. Reports suggest Spain felt that while its soldiers were defending Latvia, Latvia was criticizing Spain during its own migrant influx.

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And we indicated that those illegal migrants should not be legalized. Quite a few countries have stated that in this case, there would be wider risks to the security of the Schengen area.

Kulbergs confirmed he had heard about the letter and acknowledged Dombrava's enthusiasm. However, he noted that "sometimes there is too much initiative" and that actions should have been coordinated. He understood Dombrava wished Spain well and wanted to share Latvia's experience with hybrid attacks, particularly referencing Spain's encounter with a hybrid attack orchestrated by Morocco. Dombrava had offered to share Latvia's experience in controlling migrant flows from Belarus and Russia. Kulbergs stressed that such delicate international matters require coordination with the Foreign Ministry to avoid contradictory statements and ensure government awareness of contacts.

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And this is precisely the case when actions needed to be coordinated.

Following the migrant crisis in Ceuta, an EU enclave in North Africa, EU interior ministers agreed during a video conference to strengthen the fight against smuggling networks, adopt a stricter approach to deportations, and improve information exchange. Spain's negative reaction underscores the diplomatic sensitivities involved in international cooperation on migration issues.

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I understand that J. Dombrava wished Spain well and wanted to share our experience in the fight against hybrid attacks. He noted that Spain also faced a hybrid attack organized by Morocco and offered to adopt our experience in controlling the flow of migrants from Belarus and Russia.