NATO – from Warsaw to Brussels. Future of the Alliance and the Enhanced Forward Presence.

The Latvian Institute of International Affairs kindly invites to attend its next public discussion “NATO – from Warsaw to Brussels. Future of the Alliance and the Enhanced Forward Presence.” It will take place on 16 June 2017, 9.00-12.30, “Altum” conference hall, 4 Doma square, Riga. 

Please see the full event agenda here and register: http://ejuz.lv/sum

Panel 1: Assessing the future development prospects of NATO

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, NATO expanded eastwards and became an active multi-task organization. Since then, it has engaged in missions beyond its borders and has partnered with different countries, Russia among them. As the conflict in Ukraine unfolded, NATO has returned to its origins – collective defence, whereas Russia has become a strategic rival with measures taken to deter it from a new aggression. At the same time, the new President of the United States calls NATO allies to bolster defence spending and to devote more attention to anti-terrorism activities. How are these calls received by allies, and how the transatlantic link will evolve? Will NATO return to Afghanistan with a combat mission? Could it launch new missions in the Near or the Middle East? What else NATO could do to counter terrorism?

Panel 2: Prospects and challenges of NATO’s Enhanced Forward Presence in Baltic States and Poland

Heads of the states and governments at the NATO Warsaw Summit in July 2016 decided to establish Enhanced Forward Presence in Baltic States and Poland. What seemed almost unimaginable in the previous decades – allied “boots on the ground” in the Post-Soviet space – has become reality. Yet questions remain. How permanent Enhanced Forward Presence will be – a short-term solace to the “eastern flank” allies or can it evolve to a permanent presence? Are current levels of allied troops and equipment sufficient to deter Russia? Has the allied presence improved or, as according to Russia, exacerbated the regional security situation?

The project is carried out by the Latvian Institute of International Affairs in cooperation with NATO, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Riga and Embassy of Canada to Latvia in Riga.