From October 9 to 11, 2025, the annual largest security and foreign policy forum in the Nordic region “Rīga Conference 2025” took place at the University of Latvia's House of Science. The forum brought together high-level participants: U.S. Permanent Representative to NATO Matthew J. Whitaker, President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola, Former Chair of the Military Committee of NATO Admiral Rob Bauer, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Estonia Margus Tsahkna, Commissioner Responsible for Defence and Space at the European Commission Andrius Kubilius, and many other prominent security and foreign policy experts.
At the opening of the conference on Thursday, October 9, experts discussed how lasting peace in Europe can be achieved through strength - by strengthening NATO and allied unity, effectively implementing sanctions, and using new instruments of pressure against Russia. Matthew J. Whitaker, U.S. Permanent Representative to NATO, emphasized: “I always refer to our friends in Latvia as the model ally - and for good reason. They are doing everything they should for their individual defence, in full accordance with the Washington Treaty. Their investment in national defence strengthens our collective defence, makes it more formidable, and ensures that NATO remains relevant for decades to come.”
During the discussion on October 10, experts talked about strengthening NATO's collective defence and European countries' commitment to increase defence spending. Andris Sprūds, Minister of Defence of the Republic of Latvia, said: “Russia remains a threat, and China presents additional challenges. As democracies, we must recognize and respect each other’s political processes and societal differences. At the end of the day, understanding that one side of the Atlantic supports the other - embracing the principle of “one for all, and all for one.”
On the last day of the conference, October 11, during a panel discussion on tariffs, industrial policy, economic security, and proposals for sanctions packages, Valdis Dombrovskis, European Commissioner for Economic and Productivity, noted: “Agreement is difficult. New sanctions packages, such as the discussions on the 19th sanctions package, are still ongoing. It's challenging to proceed with existing sanctions, but there is not a very easy way out of this issue because the European Union's working methods are enshrined in the European Union Treaty. The treaty can only be changed through unity.”
In the concluding discussion on the changing role of the UN in a fragmented world, which brought together experts from all UN regional groups, Baiba Braže, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia, stated: “We have to improve the work methods, efficiency, and transparency of the UN Security Council to deal with military and non-military threats alike. Within the UN framework every state must contribute and compensate according to its international commitments - reaffirming their status as active and responsible members of the global system.”
The conference discussions are available on YouTube here, as well as on the channels of Latvian and international media partners. This year marked the 20th anniversary of the conference, bringing together more than 700 participants from around 45 countries.
The Rīga conference is jointly organized by the Latvian Transatlantic Organization (LATO), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia, and the Ministry of Defence, in close cooperation with the University of Latvia, the European Commission Representation in Latvia, and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation. The conference is supported by the Embassy of Sweden in Latvia, the Embassy of France in Latvia, the Embassy of Spain in Latvia, the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Latvia, the Embassy of the Netherlands in Latvia, the Embassy of Turkey in Latvia, the Embassy of Israel in Latvia and the Embassy of Canada in Latvia.
The conference is also supported by: Riga International Airport, mobility service provider “SIXT”, JSC “RB Rail”, aerospace and defence company “Patria Latvia”, Insurance JSC “BALTA”. Ltd. “Pure Chocolate”, SIA “Addiction”, Spanish company “GDELS”, Ltd. “Atlas Aerospace”, Ltd. “Edge Autonomy Riga”, Military Technology, Drones and Robotics Association (MilTech), International Practitioners' Partnership Network (PractNet), Ltd. “NEWT21”, Latvian Institute of International Affairs and GLOBSEC.
Acknowledgements for content and informational support: University of Latvia, Latvian Public Media (LSM), LETA, ReTV, DELFI, TVNET Group, Latvijas Mobilais Telefons, Ir magazine, Sargs.lv, LA.lv, TV24, 360TV, jauns.lv, GEOpolitics magazine, Delphi Global Research Center, Visegrad Insight, The Lithuania Tribune, New Eastern Europe, Postimees, Gnomon Wise, Hromadske, Estonian Atlantic Treaty Association (EATA), Heinrich Böll Foundation, Konrad Adenauer Foundation, Riga Stradiņš University, Riga Technical University, Riga Graduate School of Law, and Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences.
The full program for #RigaConf2025 is available here: https://rigaconference.lv/agenda/
The side events program is available here: https://rigaconference.lv/agenda/
For more information:
Latvian Transatlantic Organization,
Media and Interview Coordinator Laura Dace Dzene; laura@notaged.lv; +371 26834402;
Media Coordinator Annija Bičule; annija@notaged.lv; +371 28 452 661.