What is Common Effort 2025: Themes, Goals, and What to Expect in Riga

Introduction

In an increasingly interconnected and volatile world, the importance of international civil/military cooperation and dialogue cannot be overstated. That is where Common Effort 2025 (CE25) comes in. Taking place in Riga, Latvia, this conference aims to bring together governments, NGOs, societal actors, academia, industries and military actors to tackle the most pressing challenges facing global governance, security, diplomacy, and innovation. If you’re considering attending, following, or contributing to CE25, here’s what you need to know: the themes, the goals, and what to expect.

What is Common Effort 2025?

Common Effort 2025 is an integrated international civil-military platform dedicated to building resilience by bridging divides between military organisations, governments, NGOs, local communities, academia and industries in the context of crises and war characterised by rapid change, uncertainty, and overlapping crises. It is designed to create a platform where diverse voices engage in meaningful debate, share knowledge, and co-create strategies for global challenges such as security issues, technological threats, cultural disruption and governance gaps.

Core Themes of CE25

Here are the major thematic pillars that will shape the conference programme:

1. Global Security & Threats From cyber-threats, hybrid warfare, to the destabilising effect of cultural disruption, CE25 will unpack the evolving landscape of global security. Expect sessions on critical infrastructure protection, the energy security divide in Europe, and emerging threats that transcend cultural borders.

2. Cognitive & Cyber Technology is reshaping how states engage with each other and with citizens. Topics include the renewed role of drones, AI’s role in decision-making, digital governance, new tools and platforms for diplomacy, and the risks of misinformation and disinformation.

3. Collaboration Across Sectors NGOs, private sector, government, and academics will explore how cross-sector collaboration can drive peacekeeping, enhance transparency, foster resilience, and build trust in international systems.

4. Civil Preparedness Strengthening societies through education, protection of civilians, shelters, total defense/whole-of-society approaches, and civil–military cooperation in wider frameworks.

5. Multi Domain Operations & Coordination About preparing a comprehensive, whole-of-society response to complex security challenges, where no single actor or domain can succeed alone.

6. Logistics & Industry Ensuring innovation, deployment, and sustainment through public–private collaboration, recognizing that resilient operations depend on strong civil–military partnerships.

Goals of CE25

The conference is committed to proactively preparing for crises, mitigating their impacts, and strengthening societal resilience. We foster:

• Foster actionable insights. Move past high-level discussion; produce policy recommendations, case studies, and frameworks that participants can take home and implement.

• Mutual understanding & trust. Goes beyond just “knowing” each other. It’s about building trust, empathy, and a shared frame of reference between very different actors (military, government, NGOs, academia, private sector).

• Strengthen networks. Build meaningful connections among government, civil society, academia, and private sector to enable collaborations that persist after the event.

• Elevate underrepresented voices. Ensure that innovation, policy, academia voices from smaller or less represented countries are heard, particularly regarding technology, climate, and security.

• Increase awareness & visibility. Highlight critical yet unexplored issues and bring them into mainstream policy conversations.

• Lay groundwork for future initiatives. Use CE25 as a springboard for lasting efforts: whether through research collaborations, joint initiatives, or follow-up events.

What to Expect: Highlights & Practical Advice

To make the most of CE25, here’s what you can anticipate:

What	Details
Format	Keynotes, panel discussions, workshops, informal coffee breaks and interactive sessions: focus groups and scenario-based training
Speakers & Expertise	Military leaders, security analysts, technologists, government officials, NGO leaders, cultural experts and academia . Expect global perspectives, especially from both civilians and military within Europe, Eastern Europe, and small states.
Networking & Side Programmes	Expect opportunities for (in)formal dialogue: roundtables, workshops, social events. Ideal settings to build contacts, share practice, and create partnerships.
Engagement & Learning	Participants will have chances to participate in debates, Q&A, focus groups and secnario-based training.

Conclusion

If global dialogue, cooperation, and problem-solving appeal to you, Common Effort 2025 is a conference not to be missed. Expect to leave with new perspectives, new networks, and new inspiration. In the lead-up to CE25, we’ll be publishing more detailed previews of speakers, workshops, tools, and themes. Stay tuned.