The 14th annual International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Manama Dialogue conference got underway in the Bahraini capital on Friday with side meetings focusing on Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s call for establishing a prosperous Middle East.
Sponsored by Bahrain’s Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the event is attended by senior officials, including Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir, US Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis, Italian Defense Minister Elisabetta Trenta and German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen.
They are set to discuss the Arab Gulf and Middle East in wake of the turbulence and instability in the region.
Addressing the dignitaries, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman al-Safadi said that the Manama Dialogue is an important platform for dialogue on the future of the region. He also underlined the need to continue the fight against terrorism.
Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa stated that the forum is an opportunity for senior officials to exchange ideas about regional issues. It is also an opportunity to bolster international cooperation and collective work to confront the dangers threatening the international community.
The forum was kicked off by a televised session that included Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Abul Gheit and former CIA chief David Petraeus.
Commenting on Syria, Abul Gheit said that the war there was nearing its end.
He also stressed that the Palestinian-Israeli conflict remains the source of crises in the Middle East. These problems will not be resolved without the establishment of a Palestinian state according to the 1967 borders and whose capital is East Jerusalem.
He also noted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s surprise visit to Oman on Friday where he held talks with Sultan Qaboos on the Middle East peace process.
Petraeus described the meeting as significant. He also said that the US administration was “serious” in dealing with Iran, ruling out, however, the eruption of a military confrontation as tensions between Washington and Tehran still simmer.
The official proceedings of the Manama Dialogue will kick off on Saturday with attention focusing on security affairs. They will tackle threats to the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, cyber threats and the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons in the Middle East.
On the political level, the US foreign policy in the Middle East will top discussions. The role of the European Union and the regional geopolitical changes will also be addressed.
The IISS Manama Dialogue provides a vital forum for some of the most powerful policymakers from the Middle East and beyond to find ways to address the region's most pressing challenges.
The Dialogue provides opportunities for government leaders to engage directly with the leading experts in the region, and facilitates private bilateral and multilateral meetings between participating states.
The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) is a world-leading authority on global security, political risk and military conflict. Founded in 1958, the IISS promotes the development of sound policies that further global peace and security and maintain civilized international relations.
