On December 8, 2005 in Brussels, Belgium NATO Foreign Ministers agreed that the next Summit meeting of NATO Heads of State and Government will be held in November 2006 in Riga, Latvia. In January NATO member states agreed on the dates of the Summit: November 28 and 29, 2006.

The Summit of 2006 will be the first summit for Latvia as a full member of the Alliance. The 2006 Summit is expected to focus on NATO's transformation, taking stock of what has been accomplished and charting the way ahead for the Alliance.

The decision was announced by the NATO Secretary General, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, at a press conference during a meeting of Foreign Ministers from NATO and partner countries at NATO HQ in Brussels.

Latvia's Minister of Foreign Affairs Artis Pabriks notes that he is "truly delighted that Riga will have an opportunity to receive NATO leaders at the time between two significant celebrations – the anniversary of the proclamation of the independence of the Republic of Latvia and Christmas, thus making the year-end an unforgettable and very special occasion in the history of Latvian foreign policy. With the greatest sense of responsibility, the Foreign Ministry has already started relevant preparations within its competence."
Updated information regarding the NATO Summit in Riga can be found at: www.rigasummit.lv