On December 13, the Latvian Institute of International Affairs hosted the Riga Security Forum 2024 in-person event, titled "Shaping the Future of Defense and Security." The first panel discussion focused on “NATO at 75: Reflecting on Two Decades of Latvian Membership and Future Directions.” Experts provided an in-depth analysis of NATO's evolution over the past 75 years, with a particular emphasis on Latvia's experiences and contributions since joining in 2004. The discussion explored key milestones in NATO's history, the strategic importance of the Baltic region, and the impact of Latvia's membership on both the alliance and national security. Panelists: Mr. Imants Liegis – Minister’s Diplomatic Adviser, Ministry of Defence of Latvia; Head of the Security Programme, Latvian Institute of International Affairs. Mr. Petr Lunak – Deputy Head, Engagements Section, NATO Public Diplomacy Division. Dr. Adam Eberhardt – Deputy Director, Centre for East European Studies, University of Warsaw. Moderator: Dr. Sandis Šrāders – Researcher, Latvian Institute of International Affairs; Member of the Board, Latvian Transatlantic Organization (LATO) 🎧 Explore engaging discussions at www.rigasecurityforum.liia.lv. The Riga Security Forum 2024 is made possible through the collaborative efforts of the Latvian Institute of International Affairs, the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Baltic States, NATO Public Diplomacy Division, the Embassy of the United States of America in Riga, Patria (military services and solutions provider), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia, and the Embassies of Poland, Canada, Spain, and the United Kingdom in Latvia. We are also proud to partner with the Riga Graduate School of Law. Our media partners for the forum are The Baltic Times, the Latvian unified news portal lsm.lv and TV4 Latvia.