Latvia wants permanent U.S. troops, foreign minister tells Blinken

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during a news conference with Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics in Riga, Latvia March 7, 2022. REUTERS/Ints Kalnins

Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics on Monday called for a permanent presence of U.S. troops in Latvia following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

"Looking at the most recent developments we would be very happy about the permanent presence of U.S. forces here in Latvia," Rinkevics told a joint news conference in Riga with his U.S. counterpart Antony Blinken.