NEW security partnerships in the Middle East, defence modernisation and changing politics of energy are among the key topics on the agenda of an annual premier security summit being hosted in Manama later this year.
The 18th International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Regional Security Summit: The Manama Dialogue 2022 will be held from November 18 to 20 at The Ritz-Carlton Bahrain.
The theme of this year’s IISS Manama Dialogue is ‘Rules and Competition in the Middle East’.
“At a time of significant challenges to the rules-based order, the dialogue will provide a timely opportunity to examine their effect on interests, influence and values in the Middle East, and beyond,” the IISS announced as it released the summit’s agenda.
“Held annually since 2004 in Bahrain, the dialogue is a central element of the Middle East’s security architecture.
“It enables national leaders, ministers and policymakers from the Middle East, North America, Europe, Africa and Asia to gather together to discuss the most pressing regional security issues and to share policy responses.”
The IISS Manama Dialogue is a unique forum for government ministers and policymakers, as well as members of the expert, opinion-forming and business communities, to debate the Middle East’s most pressing foreign policy, defence and security challenges.
The event kicks off on November 18 with bilateral meetings between ministers and officials, followed by an opening reception and a keynote address.
The following day world leaders, military chiefs and experts will debate on US security partnerships in the Middle East, the Changing Politics of Energy, Impact of Extra-Regional Conflicts on Middle East Security and Conflict Resolution in the Middle East.
The last day of the event features sessions on ‘Security of the Global Maritime Choke-points’, ‘Defence Modernisation and New Technologies’ and a concluding session on ‘New Security Partnerships in the Middle East’.
Indonesian Defence Minister Lieutenant General (Rtd) Prabowo Subianto was the keynote speaker at last year’s Manama Dialogue.
As in 2020, the event last year was held in a hybrid format, in line with the Covid-19 protocols.
Over the years the summit has seen a participation of 500-plus delegates from around the world.
Some of the big names to have appeared as speakers at the summit previously are former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, King Abdullah of Jordan, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson in his capacity as Foreign Secretary in 2016.
sandy@gdnmedia.bh
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