Minister of Foreign Affairs of Portugal to Give Guest Lecture at RSU: Our Europe - What Happens After the War?

The Latvian Institute of International Affairs, in cooperation with Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU) 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.

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 defence 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 are laying ahead for the community in the mid and long-term perspective. Among many necessities, the bottom line remains instrumental - what measures should be implemented to ensure sustainable security architecture in Europe? 

Therefore, H. E. João Gomes Cravinho will analyse the following interlinked aspects in his guest lecture:

1. enlargement and the EU's institutional reforms,
2. transatlantic solidarity and challenges from the Indo-Pacific region,
3. the case for a closer partnership with Africa and Latin America.

Both the internal dynamics and necessities of EU and NATO, as well as external threats and challenges will be addressed during the lecture.

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

About the speaker

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. 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.