#RSF2023 episodes

For the second time in this year's #RSF2023 edition, we have gathered to talk about the role of gender and, thus, women and children in various conflict situations - the need to empower women, children, and minorities in conflict and post-conflict environments as well as in peacetime. Those issues are being discussed between Merissa Khurma, Program Director of the Middle East Program at the Wilson Center, and Elizabete Elina Vizgunova-Vikmane, Researcher at the Latvian Institute of International Affairs.

9th Riga Security Forum episode aims to foster a deeper understanding of how societal norms and expectations vary globally and the process in challenging traditional gender roles may not be always successful. Can we maintain international peace and security and ensure that women and children and their interests are adequately protected? Participants: Dr. Stéfanie von Hlatky, Canada Research Chair in Gender, Security and the Armed Forces & Professor of Political Studies at Queen's University, and Elizabete Elina Vizgunova-Vikmane, Researcher at the Latvian Institute of International Affairs.

Episode 8: AI as a Disruptive Technology in the Security Considerations of Europe

This is the 8th #RSF2023 episode where Julia Gifford, Co-founder of Truesix, talks to Dr. Ivars Ijabs, Member of the European Parliament & political scientist and Aldis Erglis, Chairman of Emergn Latvia. This discussion delves into the transformative impact of disruptive technologies, with a keen focus on AI's effect on European security. 

#RSF2023: 

Riga Security Forum 2023: How European is European security discussion was organized on December 13, 2023, in Riga, Latvia. Panelists: Mr. Jānis GARISONS, State Secretary of the Ministry of Defence of Latvia; Mr. Mats WARSTEDT, Senior Vice President Nordics at Patria; Ms. Elīna EGLE, Chairwoman of the Board of the Federation of Security and Defence Industries of Latvia. Moderator: Dr. Artis PABRIKS, Chairman of "Northern Defence Policy Centre" and former Minister for Defence. 


Riga Security Forum 2023: How European is European security discussionwas organized on December 13, 2023, in Riga, Latvia. Discussion participants: H.E. Christopher ROBINSON, U.S. Ambassador in Latvia and Dr. Kārlis BUKOVSKIS, Director of the Latvian Institute of International Affairs.

Episode 7: Global South and the Quest for International Justice

This is the 7th #RSF2023 episode: "Global South and the Quest for International Justice," where LIIA Researcher Sintija Broka talks to Dr. Adam Czarnota, Rector at the Riga Graduate School of Law. This discussion examines whether there is a demand for exporting Western values beyond our borders and how far international justice stretches.

Episode 6: EU’s Global Outlook and Southern Neighborhood

Here is the sixth episode of the Riga Security Forum 2023! This discussion will look at the EU's strategic approach to fostering stability, security, and prosperity in its Southern Neighborhood region. Discussion participants: Álvaro Imbernón Sáinz, Director of Strategy and Foresight in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of Spain and Dr. Nathalie Tocci, Director of the Istituto Affari Internazionali & Professor at the School of Transnational Governance. The conversation will be moderated by Gints Amoliņš, Foreign news correspondent at Latvian Television.

Episode 5: Turkey vs. Ukraine – Who is more important to the EU?

This discussion, in an unorthodox and bold manner, will explore the strategic significance of both Turkey and Ukraine in the context of the EU and the geopolitical implications of both countries.  Discussants: Dr. Toni Alaranta, Senior Research Fellow at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs, Justyna Gotkowska, Deputy Director Centre for Eastern Studies (OSW). Moderated by Uģis Lībietis, Associate Researcher at the Latvian Institute of International Affairs.


Episode 4: Nuclear Arsenal and China: a Comprehensive Discussion

This discussion will delve into the multifaceted issues surrounding China's nuclear weapons program and its implications on global security and diplomacy. Experts will explore China's strategic intentions, regional and international implications. Discussants: Lynn Rusten, Vice president for Nuclear Threat Initiative Global Nuclear Policy Program and Dr. Sandis Šrāders, Researcher and Lecturer at the Baltic Defence College.

Episode 3: The alliance of sanctioned nations: impact and implications

Join us for our third Riga Security Forum discussion, featuring distinguished experts: Dr. Arkady Moshes, Programme Director at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs; Dr. Ian Anthony, Research Analyst at the Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI); The discussion will be moderated by Dr. Karlis Bukovskis.

Episode 2: The U.S. cannot afford to protect the EU. Why does the EU need protection?

This discussion will delve into the complex dynamics of international security and diplomacy, focusing on the European Union's need for protection and the United States' role in providing it. Prof. Przemysław Żurawski vel Grajewski, Prof. Michael Kimmage and Dr. Reinhard Krumm will analyze the breadth of European Strategic Autonomy and the obvious limitations to it.

In the opening episode of the Riga Security Forum 2023, Dr. Edijs Bošs talks with the President of Latvia H.E. Edgars Rinkēvičs. The conversation analyzes the causes of international escalation, development scenarios, and potential consequences, as well as how Latvia can navigate through this turmoil, not get lost, and not wander astray.

#RSF2022 episodes, please see below

Episode 1: International Law and Multilateral Diplomacy Today

We are pleased to continue a great tradition and host H.E. President Egils Levits for the opening Riga Security Forum 2022 conversation. The discussion is moderated by Dr. Karlis Bukovskis, Acting Director of the Latvian Institute of International Affairs.

Episode 2: Europe's Energy Security: Reliable or not?

The second #RSF2022 conversation is on Europe's Energy Security. Panelists: Dr. Frank Umbach, Head of Research at the EUCERS and EUCERS, University of Bonn and NATO consultant on energy security as well as Mr. Reinis Āboltiņš, Senior energy expert.

Episode 3: Secure data connectivity for future networks 5G/6G: The role of ecosystems

The third #RSF2022 conversation is on secure data connectivity and the role of ecosystems. Panelists: Jesper Olsen, Director and Chief Security Officer in Northern Europe, "Palo Alto Networks; Evijs Taube, Board member at Latvian State Radio and Television Centre; Kaspars Pollaks, Head of Business Area Defence and Public Safety, LMT and Kristiāns Teters, IT Security Specialist, CERT.lv. The conversation is moderated by Julia Gifford, Co-Founder at "Truesix" and communication specialist, and Neils Kalniņš, Director of 5G Techritory, Electronic Communications Office (ECO) of Latvia.


Episode 4: Digital Resilience of Ukraine 

Digital infrastructure has become one of the main pillars of Ukraine's resilience. During the upcoming debate we discuss several issues concerning digital resilience versus conventional warfare. Panelists: George Dubinskiy, Ukraine's Deputy Minister of Digital Transformation; Olesya Zaluska, Chief of Party in Ukraine, USAID Competitive Economy Program (CEP); Anatoly Motkin, President of StrategEast; and Elena Krukovskaya, Chief Operations Officer, Exadel. The discussion is moderated by Uģis Lībietis, Associated researcher at LIIA and Journalist at Latvian Radio.

Episode 5: How to make the Eastern Neighborhood stable, secure and prosperous? Part I

For the next episode Reinhard Krumm, Director at the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Baltic States, together with Ambassador Thomas Greminger, Director of the Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP), discusses the latest trends and opportunities towards the Eastern Neighborhood region.

The audio version is also available on "Apple Podcasts" and "Spotify".

Episode 6: How to make the Eastern Neighborhood stable, secure and prosperous? Part II

During the next #RSF2022 episode, Juris Poikāns, Ambassador of Latvia to Poland, Romania, and Bulgaria, together with Arkady Moshes, Program Director at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs, and Sandis Šrāders, Researcher and Lecturer at the Baltic Defense College as well as Associate Researcher at the LIIA discusses the latest trends and opportunities towards the Eastern Neighborhood region.

The audio version is also available on "Apple Podcasts" and "Spotify".

Episode 7: Transatlantic security and NATO: from Madrid to Vilnius

During the next episode, Manuel Selas González, Deputy Director General for International Security Affairs, MAEUEC, Government of Spain; Margarita Šešelgytė, Director of the Institute of International Relations and Political Science at Vilnius University and moderator Mārtiņš Vargulis, Deputy Director and Researcher at the LIIA discusses the latest trends in the transatlantic security environment and NATO.

The audio version is also available on "Apple Podcasts" and "Spotify".

For the 8th #RSF2022 episode among the experts, we have: Jari Vilén, Finland's Ambassador for Barents and Northern Dimension at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland; Kristīne Bērziņa, Senior Fellow, Security and Defense Policy, German Marshall Fund of the United States and Gints Jegermanis, Former Latvian diplomat and Associated Researcher at the Latvian Institute of International Affairs. Moderator: Ansis Bogustovs, Latvian television and radio journalist.

Among the experts, we have Volker Stanzel, Executive Board and Senior Distinguished Fellow, German Institute for International and Security Affairs, SWP; Tomas Janeliūnas, Professor at the Institute of International Relations and Political Science (IIRPS), Vilnius University and Axel Nordenstam, Associate Fellow at the Asia Program, Swedish Institute of International Affairs (UI). The discussion is moderated by Dr. Una Aleksandra Bērziņa-Čerenkova, Political scientist and Head of the Asia program at the Latvian Institute of International Affairs.

For the concluding in-person discussion, we hosted three distinguished guests: Baiba Braže, Assistant Secretary-General for Public Diplomacy, NATO; Gunda Reire, Parliamentary Secretary at the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs; LCol Melanie Lake, Canadian Armed Forces Advisor to Canada’s Ambassador for Women, Peace and Security. The discussion was moderated by Elizabete Vizgunova, Researcher at the LIIA and a journalist at TVNET.

#RSF2021 episodes, please see below

Episode 11: 
"Transatlantic Security and Deterrence." Part One

The final episode of the Riga Security Forum 2021 podcast sessions is divided into two high-level conversations. For the first part of the discussion, Mārtiņš Vargulis transatlantic security issues from the NATO perspective will discuss with Baiba Braže, NATO's Assistant Secretary General for Public Diplomacy.

 Watch 


Episode 10: "Transatlantic Security and Deterrence." Part two

The final episode of the Riga Security Forum 2021 podcast sessions is divided into two high-level conversations. For the second part of the conversation, Mārtiņš Vargulis transatlantic security issues from the national perspective discussed with Artis Pabriks, Minister of Defence of the Republic of Latvia.


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Episode 9: "Climate and Energy: Perspectives of the Capital"

What is Riga's potential for reducing energy consumption, and how do we manage to keep pace with other major European cities? In the special episode of the Riga Security Forum 2021, we talk to Mārtiņš Staķis, Mayor of Riga! The talk is moderated by Reinis Āboltiņš, Energy expert, Ph.D. researcher at RTU.

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Episode 8: "European Foreign and Security Policy: Challenges and Developments"

During the eighth episode of the Riga Security Forum 2021, European Foreign and Security Policy Challenges and Developmentsbeing are being discussed. Karlis Bukovskis, Deputy Director at the LIIA, talks to Sandra Fernandes, Professor at the Minho University and Researcher at the Research Centre in Political Science, Portugal.

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Episode 7: "The (Im)probability of European Security Architecture? EU and Russia"

Among the experts, we have Mark Galeotti, Principal Director at the Mayak Intelligence, Honorary Professor at the UCL School of Slavonic & East European Studies, and a Senior Associate Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute and Marcin Terlikowski, Head of International Security Programme in the Polish Institute of International Affairs. The talk is moderated by Imants Lieģis, a Senior Fellow at the LIIA, Former Latvian Diplomat and Defense Minister.

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Episode 6: "Security Outlooks of the Big Power Era"

With the sixth episode of the Riga Security Forum 2021, we begin discussing the conventional security challenges! For your attention, we have Bobo Lo, Independent Analyst and Nonresident Fellow at Lowy Institute. Julia Voo, Cyber Fellow at Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs and moderator, Una Aleksandra Bērziņa-Čerenkova, Head of the Asia program at the Latvian Institute of International Affairs.

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Episode 5: "Climate and energy security: choosing sustainable ways to make the best of it"

The fifth episode of the Riga Security Forum 2021 is dedicated to climate and energy security issues. Discussion participants: Carole Mathieu, Head of EU Policies, Center for Energy and Climate, IFRI; Kira Vinke, Head of Center for Climate and Foreign Policy, DGAP; Edmunds Cepurītis, Chairman of the committee, Riga City Council. Moderator, Reinis Āboltiņš, Energy expert, Ph.D. researcher, RTU.


Episode 4: "The future of cyberspace(s) and cyber(in)security"

For the fourth Riga Security Forum 2021 episode Māris Andžāns, Senior Researcher at the LIIA, talks to Nicolás Pascual de la Parte, Ambassador at Large for Cybersecurity and Hybrid Threats, Spain.

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Episode 3: "Women, Peace and Security agenda and international crisis"

The third discussion of this year's Riga Security Forum. Elizabete Vizgunova, an associate researcher at the LIIA, talked to Kristine St-Pierre, Director at The WPS Group Canada, gender equality and women, peace and security adviser, researcher, and trainer.

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Episode 2: "Societal Security: Diversity and Intergenerational Perspectives"

This is the second discussion of this year's Riga Security Forum Podcast Seasons: "Societal Security: Diversity and Intergenerational Perspectives." Discussion participants: Valdis Zatlers, President of the Republic of Latvia (2007-2011), and Natālija Knipše, UN Youth Delegate of Latvia. The discussion is moderated by Sintija Broka, Researcher at the LIIA.

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Episode 1: "Global Security and Democracy in the Shadow of a Pandemic"

This is the first high-level discussion of this year's Riga Security Forum Podcast Seasons: "Global Security and Democracy in the Shadow of a Pandemic". Traditionally, the event is opened by H.E. Egils Levits, President of Latvia, and Prof. Andris Sprūds, Director of the Latvian Institute of International Affairs and Professor at the Riga Stradiņš University.

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