Riga to host NATO military leaders conference

A NATO conference at which the alliance's military leaders will be exchanging ideas affecting military, strategic and transformational issues from an operational point of view is scheduled to take place in Riga from April 11 to 14, according to the Latvian Defense Ministry.

The biennial conference Allied Reach 2016 is expected to bring together some 250 participants, including 63 NATO generals, as well as military experts. Latvian Chief of Defense Lt. Gen. Raimonds Graube will also attend the meeting.

"I am honored that the conference will be held in Latvia. It is taking place at a significant time as we are busily preparing for NATO's Warsaw summit right now. The conference will provide a unique opportunity to military leaders of NATO command structures to debate the necessary transformations that have to be carried out so that NATO can deal with present and future challenges," said Latvian Defense Minister Raimonds Bergmanis.

The agenda of the meeting, which will be taking place behind closed doors, has been worked out in close cooperation with Supreme Allied Commander Transformation (SACT), the International Military Staff and Military Committee.

Conclusions drawn from the meeting will be used to develop new concepts, possible improvements in the way NATO conducts business and valuable insight for how the alliance might address future challenges. Enditem