The lecture has been cancelled!

The Latvian Institute of International Affairs (LIIA(, in cooperation with Riga Stradiņš University and with the support of the Embassy of Portugal in Stockholm, invites you to the guest lecture "Our Europe - what happens after the war?" given by the Foreign Minister of Portugal H.E. João Gomes Cravinho.

9 March 2023 | 10:00 – 11:15 | Riga Stradiņš University, Hippocrates Lecture Hall.

Russia’s aggression in Ukraine has raised the issue of the overall security of the Euro-Atlantic area. It has forced Europe to step in politically, economically, or militarily. Western and Eastern European countries have strengthened their efforts to assist Ukraine and ensure credible deterrence and defense posture. Russia’s aggression has also influenced the perception of the security in Europe that is not taken for granted.

The transatlantic community is involved in a long-term rivalry. A lot of challenges lie ahead for the community in the mid and long-term perspective. The critical question remains - what measures should be implemented to ensure sustainable security architecture in Europe?

Therefore, in his guest lecture, H. E. João Gomes Cravinho will analyze the following interlinked aspects: a) enlargement and the European Union's (EU) institutional reforms, b) Transatlantic solidarity and challenges from the Indo-Pacific region c) the case for a closer partnership with Africa and Latin America. Both internal dynamics and necessities of EU and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) as well as external threats and challenges will be addressed during the lecture.

João Cravinho has a Ph.D. in Political Science from Oxford University and a master's and an undergraduate degree from the London School of Economics. He was European Union Ambassador to Brazil from August 2015 to October 2018 and was in the same post in India from 2011 to 2015. He was the minister of National Defense from October 2018 to March 2022. From March 2005 to June 2011, he was Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation in the 17th and 18th Governments under the 1976 Democratic Constitution. Previously, João Cravinho lectured as a Professor of International Relations at Coimbra University Faculty of Economics and as visiting professor at ISCTE and the School of Law at Nova University in Lisbon.

The discussion will be moderated by Martins Vargulis, Lecturer at Riga Stradiņš University and Deputy Director at the Latvian Institute of International Affairs.