King Frederik X of Denmark Forges Stronger Ties with Latvia, Driven by Decades-Long Friendship
A warm embrace, bypassing royal protocol, signaled the close relationship between King Frederik X of Denmark and Artis Pabriks, head of the Drona and Military Technology Association, during the Danish royal couple’s state visit to Latvia this week. The visit, which began Tuesday, marks Queen Mary’s first trip to Latvia since King Frederik ascended to the throne in January 2024, and underscores a growing partnership between the two Baltic Sea nations.
The personal connection between the King and Pabriks dates back to their time as students at Aarhus University. “Yes, we studied together at Aarhus University, we were in the same group, we also had the same supervisor,” Pabriks confirmed, recounting a shared history that began with a student visit to Riga in 1992. “We walked around Riga, we were in the Riga market, we bought caviar.” Their paths continued to cross, including an invitation to Copenhagen in 2018 to celebrate Latvia’s centenary, but their initial meeting occurred even earlier, in January 1991.
King Frederik is widely known in Denmark as “the people’s king” for his approachable demeanor. Pabriks described the monarch as “simple, friendly, always open in conversation,” noting the unexpected hug during a reception hosted by Latvian President Rinkevičs. “It was, of course, the king’s initiative, because I cannot throw myself around the king’s neck,” Pabriks said with a smile, adding that the moment was captured and explained in Danish media due to their longstanding friendship.
Beyond the personal rapport, King Frederik possesses a robust background in military service. He is a trained special task force soldier, proficient in scuba diving, and currently serves as the commander-in-chief of the Danish army. “He has undergone serious military training,” Pabriks emphasized. “In the Royal House, everyone must participate in military service. You can’t be a king if you haven’t been in the military.” Pabriks recounted the King’s dedication to physical fitness, referencing a challenging 3,500-kilometer sledge trek in Greenland. “I said that serving in the army would have been enough, but he said that he wanted something more.”
Discussions during the visit touched upon the geopolitical landscape, particularly the war in Ukraine. While opportunities for in-depth conversation were limited to an evening reception, Pabriks confirmed the King’s support for Ukraine. Notably, King Frederik’s understanding of the Baltic region is rooted in academic research; he authored a scientific work on the foreign policy of the Baltic States during his time at Aarhus University in the 1990s. “Therefore, the Baltic countries are well known to him, he understands them and follows everything that is happening,” Pabriks stated. “He is not one of those heads of state who should thoroughly explain what Russia is and what it has done in Ukraine.”
The visit also highlighted promising avenues for military cooperation between Latvia and Denmark. Pabriks indicated strong potential for joint projects, particularly in the realm of drone technology. “We discussed drone attacks,” he revealed. “I have spoken to some Danish companies with whom we could have joint projects. The Danes are interested in cooperation with the Latvian armed forces. And there are things we can offer the Danes – especially drone technology.” Latvia already supplies military products to the Danish army, suggesting a foundation for expanded collaboration.
While no formal agreements were signed during the visit – “A king is not one who makes treaties” – Pabriks emphasized that discussions took place with representatives from the Latvian Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Economy. He anticipates the visit will significantly bolster cooperation between the two nations. “The visit was symbolically positive, because Denmark is one of the closest countries of the region to us, you can even feel a close emotional connection,” Pabriks concluded. “And such connection helps in international relations. If a crisis arises, Denmark will be a country with which we will definitely cooperate.”
