Final answer:
Latvia gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.
Step-by-step explanation:
Latvia gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.
After independence, Latvia, along with Estonia and Lithuania, looked towards Western Europe for trade and development.
They transitioned to market economies with democratic governments and became members of NATO and the EU in 2004. However, they were also affected by the global economic downturn in 2008.