 | ||
Latvian–Lithuanian relations are bilateral international relations between Latvia and Lithuania. Latvia has an embassy in Vilnius, and Lithuania has an embassy in Riga.
The ambassador to Lithuania is Hardijs Baumanis, the ambassador to Latvia is Antanas Vinkus.
Both states share a long common history: Both Latvians and Lithuanians belong to the family of Baltic peoples, speakers of the Baltic languages. The current territory of Latvia was a unit of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth between 1561 and 1772 (with a brief period of Swedish rule in between). Between late 18th century and 1918, the territory of both Lithuania and Latvia were part of the Russian Empire. Lithuania and Latvia re-established their diplomatic relations on the October 5, 1991 after independence from the Soviet Union. The two states share 588 kilometres (365 mi) of common border. Both countries are full members of the European Union. A sizable part of thence Latvian population is of Lithuanian (or Polish) ancestry.