The Rīga Conference 2025 has taken place!
From October 9 to 11, 2025, the annual Riga Conference 2025, the largest security and foreign policy forum in the Nordic-Baltic region, took place at the House of Science of the University of Latvia. The forum gathered high-level participants, including U.S. Permanent Representative to NATO Matthew J. Whitaker, President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola, former Chairman of the NATO Military Committee Admiral Rob Bauer, Estonian Minister of Foreign Affairs Margus Tsahkna, European Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius, and many other distinguished experts in security and foreign policy.
Opening the conference on Thursday, October 9, experts discussed how to ensure lasting peace in Europe through strength — by reinforcing NATO and allied unity, effectively implementing sanctions, and using new tools of pressure against Russia. U.S. Permanent Representative to NATO Matthew J. Whitaker emphasized:
“I always call our friends in Latvia model partners — and rightly so. Latvia is doing everything necessary to defend its nation, fully upholding the principles of the Washington Treaty. Latvia’s contribution to national defence strengthens our collective security, makes it more resilient, and ensures that NATO will remain relevant for decades to come.