Latvia
Syllabification: (Lat·via)
Pronunciation: /ˈlatvēə/
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Definition of Latvia
Latvia was annexed by Russia in the 18th century after periods of Polish and Swedish rule. It was proclaimed an independent republic in 1918, but in 1940 was occupied by Soviet forces and incorporated into the USSR as a constituent republic. In 1991, on the breakup of the Soviet Union, Latvia became an independent republic once again. It joined both NATO and the EU in 2004