RIGA SECURITY FORUM - NEWS

Episode 9: "Russia's Destruction in Ukraine Recasts Europe"

Tue, 23 Dec 2025 11:13:00 +0000

This episode explores a central question: how has Russia’s destructive war in Ukraine fundamentally reshaped Europe’s security order, strategic assumptions, and political priorities? The discussion examines how the scale of military devastation, economic coercion, and societal targeting has forced European states to rethink deterrence, defence industrial capacity, and long-term relations with Russia.

The discussion features Aliona Hlivco- Ukrainian-British political scientist; Founder & CEO of St. James's Foreign Policy Group and Juris Ulmanis- National guard; Volunteer in Ukraine; Author. The discussion is moderated by Dr. Sandis Šrāders- Board Member, Latvian Transatlantic Organisation, Senior Researcher, Latvian Institute of International Affairs.

Episode 8: "Prospects for Polish-Baltic Military Industry Cooperation"

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 08:32:00 +0000

This episode explores a central question: can Polish–Baltic cooperation in the defence industry move beyond political alignment toward a durable, strategically relevant partnership? The discussion examines how shared threat perceptions, accelerated defence spending, and urgent industrial needs are driving cooperation, while also assessing the practical limits posed by scale, regulation, and competition within Europe’s defence market.

The conversation features Malgorzata Darowska- EU Affairs Coordinator, WB Group. Moderator: Dr. Artis Pabriks, Chairman of the Board, MilTech; Director, Northern Europe Policy Centre.

Episode 7: "Can the U.S. Afford to Remain the Security Pacifier for Europe Much Longer?"

Mon, 01 Dec 2025 19:42:00 +0000

This episode interrogates a central question: can the United States realistically continue acting as Europe’s primary security pacifier, or are growing domestic pressures and political uncertainties forcing a rethink of its long-standing role? The discussion explores how shifts in the U.S. political priorities, questions about sustained defence commitments, and ongoing debates over European burden-sharing are reshaping expectations on both sides of the Atlantic. The conversation features Jason C. Moyer - Nonresident Fellow, Atlantic Council of the United States. Moderator: Mārtiņš Vargulis - Director, PowerHouse Latvia; Lecturer, Riga Stradiņš University.

Episode 6: "Baltic Security: Is Europe Going To Be Ready Before It Is Too Late?"

Sun, 23 Nov 2025 19:36:00 +0000

This episode interrogates a central question: will Europe be sufficiently prepared to address the security challenges facing the Baltic region before it is too late, or are structural delays creating vulnerabilities that may prove difficult to reverse? The discussion explores how European states interpret the military and hybrid threats posed by Russia, how they assess the effectiveness of NATO’s deterrence and defence posture, and whether allies share a coherent understanding of required defence investments.

The discussion features Dr. Viljar Veebel- Expert of Baltic security, University of Tartu and European Council on Foreign Relations. Moderator: Uģis Lībietis- Head of the News Department, Latvijas Radio; Researcher, Latvian Institute of International Affairs.

Episode 5: "Europe and the United States: Perceiving Threats and Responsibilities Equally?"

Mon, 17 Nov 2025 13:37:00 +0000

This episode interrogates a central question: do Europe and the United States perceive contemporary security threats and global responsibilities in comparable ways, or are their strategic outlooks increasingly diverging? It further asks how both sides interpret challenges such as Russian aggression, China’s systemic rise, and emerging technological vulnerabilities, and what these differing assessments mean for defence planning. Finally, the discussion considers whether current debates on burden-sharing, European strategic autonomy, and NATO’s evolving mandate reflect converging expectations- or widening transatlantic asymmetries.

Guests: Latika M. Burke - Journalist & Author covering geopolitics, national security, and defence; Writer-at-Large for The Nightly via The Sydney Morning Herald, ABC, and 2UE Radio and Dr. Sandis Šrāders - Senior Researcher, Latvian Institute of International Affairs; Board Member, Latvian Transatlantic Organisation. Moderator: Sigita Struberga - Secretary General, Latvian Transatlantic Organisation.

Episode 4: "Is Europe Ready for Ukraine, and Can Ukraine Support Europe Much Longer?"

Mon, 10 Nov 2025 18:26:00 +0000

In this episode, we turn our attention to Ukraine. The experts examine Europe’s readiness to fully support Ukraine — politically, militarily, economically, and societally — as the war enters a protracted phase. We explore whether Europe’s defence structures, industrial capacities, and political will are equipped not only to continue providing assistance, but also to prepare for Ukraine’s long-term integration into European and Euro-Atlantic structures.

The conversation features Amb. Juris Poikāns- Special Envoy for Ukraine, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia and Elizabete Elīna Vizgunova-Vikmane- Associate Researcher, Latvian Institute of International Affairs. Moderator: Sintija Broka-Kovalevska- Senior Researcher, PowerHouse Latvia; Head of the Middle East Research Program, Latvian Institute of International Affairs.

Episode 3: "Georgia and South Caucasus: Democratic Shift?"

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 13:54:00 +0000

In this episode, we turn our attention to Georgia and the broader South Caucasus region — a crossroads of geopolitics, democracy, and security. We explore the shifting political landscape of the South Caucasus — from democratic reforms and civic movements to external pressures from powerful neighbours and global actors. Through insightful analysis and regional perspectives, this episode examines how the idea of democracy continues to evolve in the South Caucasus — not as a finished project, but as an ongoing struggle for legitimacy, freedom, and identity.

The conversation features Nino Kalandadze, Executive Director of the Chavchanadze Center for European Studies and Civic Education.
Moderator: Dr. Sandis Šrāders, Senior Researcher at LIIA, Board Member atLATO.

Episode 2: "The U.S.-China Tech Rivalry Affecting Innovation and Security Cooperation"

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 13:51:00 +0000

#RSF2025 next episode is here. In this episode, experts explore how the technological rivalry between the U.S. and China has become one of the defining challenges of our time, reshaping not only global innovation but also the very foundations of security cooperation. Starting with the president Donald Trump administration’s tough stance on trade and technology, as well as restrictions on the Chinese market, experts trace how these policies are creating the basis for a more confrontational relationship in technology.

The conversation features Alena Kudzko, Executive Director of the GLOBSEC US Foundation.
Moderator: Dr. Sandis Šrāders, Senior Researcher at LIIA, Board Member at LATO.

Episode 1: "Transatlantic Turbulences: Lessons for the Baltic States?"

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 10:33:00 +0000

Riga Security Forum is back with a new season!

We’re excited to launch the Riga Security Forum 2025 podcast series with our first episode! Tune in for a discussion on "Transatlantic Turbulences: Lessons for the Baltic States".

Participant: Prof. Dr. Julian Lindley French, Chairman of the Alpen Group
Moderator: Dr. Sandis Sraders, Senior Researcher at the LIIA, Board Member at LATO

Riga Security Forum 2025 is here

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 10:30:00 +0000

Get ready for brand new Riga Security Forum 2025 podcast episodes launching this October! These sessions will offer political insights that will reshape your perspective. Our upcoming series dives deep into crucial issues, insightful analyses, and thought-provoking debates. Stay tuned for a political journey you won't want to miss! #RSF2025