The United States first established diplomatic relations with the Baltic states (Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia) in 1922. One ambassador, resident in Riga, Latvia, was appointed to all three nations. Relations with the three nations were broken after the Soviet invasion of the republics in 1940 at the beginning of World War II. The United States never recognized the legitimacy of the Soviet occupation of the Baltic states, nor the legitimacy of the governments of those states under Soviet occupation. Hence, full diplomatic relations were not resumed until 1992 after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
The U.S. Embassy in Latvia is located in Riga.
Ambassadors +NameTitleAppointedPresented credentialsTerminated missionNotesFrederick W. B. ColemanThe ambassador was simultaneously accredited to Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia, while resident in Riga, Latvia. – Political appointeeEnvoy Extraordinary and Minister PlenipotentiarySeptember 20, 1922November 13, 1922October 20, 1931Robert Peet SkinnerSkinner was commissioned during a recess of the Senate and recommissioned after confirmation on December 17, 1931. – Career FSOSeptember 23, 1931January 28, 1932April 29, 1933John Van Antwerp MacMurrayMacMurray was commissioned during a recess of the Senate and recommissioned after confirmation on January 15, 1934. – Career FSOAugust 28, 1933December 13, 1933February 12, 1936Arthur Bliss Lane – Career FSOJanuary 24, 1936July 2, 1936September 16, 1937John C. WileyThe ambassador was simultaneously accredited to Estonia and Latvia, while resident in Riga.Wiley was commissioned during a recess of the Senate and recommissioned after confirmation on Jan 20, 1939. – Career FSOJuly 18, 1938October 6, 1938June 17, 1940Soviet forces occupied Riga on June 17, 1940, which effectively ended the U.S. diplomatic presence in those nations. Ambassador Wiley departed Riga on July 25, 1940. Earl L. Packer was serving as Chargé d'Affaires ad interim when all U.S. diplomatic officials were withdrawn and the legation in Riga was officially closed on September 5, 1940. Semi-official diplomatic relations continue until 1992 through the Latvian Diplomatic Service.The United States announced its readiness to reestablish full relations with Latvia on September 2, 1991. Embassy Riga was reestablished October 2, 1991 with Ints M. Siliņš as Chargé d'Affaires ad interim pending his appointment as ambassador.Ints Siliņš – Career FSOAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryMarch 23, 1992April 10, 1992July 14, 1995Larry C. Napper – Career FSOJune 27, 1995August 1, 1995October 1, 1998James Howard Holmes – Career FSOAugust 4, 1998August 27, 1998September 15, 2001Brian E. Carlson – Career FSONovember 5, 2001December 4, 2001December 6, 2004Catherine Todd Bailey – Political appointeeNovember 29, 2004An earlier nomination of September 8, 2004 was not acted upon by the Senate.February 4, 2005February 4, 2008Charles W. Larson, Jr. – Political appointeeJanuary 7, 2008February 12, 2008January 20, 2009Judith G. Garber – Career FSOAugust 14, 2009August 25, 2009July 9, 2012Mark Pekala – Career FSO July 10, 2012September 4, 2012August 7, 2014Nancy Pettit – Career FSO July 29, 2015September 8, 2015July 14, 2019John Carwile – Career FSO September 30, 2019November 5, 2019January 27, 2023Christopher T. Robinson - Career FSODecember 13, 2022February 21, 2023December 29, 2025Julia Jacoby - Career FSOChargé d'affaires ad interimDecember 29, 2025February 20, 2026Melissa Argyros - Political appointeeAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryDecember 18, 2025February 20, 2026Present
Notes
See also Latvia – United States relations Foreign relations of Latvia Ambassadors of the United States
References United States Department of State: Background notes on Latvia
External links United States Department of State: Chiefs of Mission for Latvia United States Department of State: Latvia United States Embassy in Riga