/ Latvia in the Middle East in 2022: An Invariably Reserved Approach in Conditions of (In)variable Turbulence

In 2021, Latvia’s foreign policy towards the Middle East was integrated with the broader approach of the transatlantic community. Therefore, this article has its limitations, as it falls within a narrower analysis of Latvia-Middle East foreign policy, with the author focusing on an analysis of the development of wider regional processes and their impact on transatlantic security and Latvia’s security, as well as Latvia’s opportunities in the region.

The year 2021 has been a dynamic and challenging year for the Middle East. Under the veil of Covid-19, the region continues to face well-known yet periodically forgotten challenges. Although Latvia’s opportunities in the region have progressed in two interrelated vectors – political and economic – it seems that this year also has been dominated by political challenges. Within the framework of this article, the author will look at the development of three processes and the role of Latvia as a member state of the European Union in them: 1) the change of power in Afghanistan, 2) the complicated efforts to re-spark the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA), and 3) the escalation and development of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.