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Manama Dialogue Discusses US Defense Strategy, Means to End Region’s Conflicts

Then-US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo delivers a virtual speech to the Manama Dialogue conference on regional security held in the Bahraini capital, on December 4, 2020. (AFP)
Then-US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo delivers a virtual speech to the Manama Dialogue conference on regional security held in the Bahraini capital, on December 4, 2020. (AFP)
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Manama Dialogue Discusses US Defense Strategy, Means to End Region’s Conflicts

Then-US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo delivers a virtual speech to the Manama Dialogue conference on regional security held in the Bahraini capital, on December 4, 2020. (AFP)
Then-US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo delivers a virtual speech to the Manama Dialogue conference on regional security held in the Bahraini capital, on December 4, 2020. (AFP)

The 17th edition of the IISS Manama Dialogue kicked off Saturday in Bahrain with the participation of key ministers and experts to discuss the Middle East’s most pressing security challenges, peace and conflict resolution, and the US defense strategy.

The conference is held amid very important regional and international circumstances and focuses on “pluralism and the Middle East.”

It will feature seven plenary sessions that will discuss the US defense policy in the Middle East, Gulf and Asia, diplomacy and deterrence, multilateralism and regional security, conflict resolution in the region, security dynamics in the Red Sea, militias, missiles and nuclear proliferation.

The forum will last for three days, from Nov. 19 to 21, with the participation of 300 prominent figures, including senior officials in politics, defense and national security affairs, along with specialized experts representing more than fifty countries, and many regional and international companies and organizations.

Delivering the opening address, Indonesian Defense Minister Lt. Gen. Prabowo Subianto talked about his country’s defense agenda for its upcoming G20 presidency.

The Manama Dialogue is organized by the International Institute for Strategic Studies and represents one of the most important annual global diplomatic and security summits.

The forum seeks to contribute to strengthening dialogue and common understanding between nations, cultures and civilizations, settling conflicts and tensions through diplomatic means, thus contributing to the consolidation of regional and global peace and security and to the achievement of the UN sustainable development goals.

Key participants include US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Dato Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, Malaysia’s Senior Minister and Minister of Defense, Dr. Nayef Al Hajraf, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Sir Stephen Lovegrove, UK National Security advisor, Najla Mohammed El Mangoush, Libyan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Brett McGurk, US Special Presidential Envoy for the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, as well as other prominent figures.

The US Defense Secretary will address in his speech on Saturday the US defense policies in the region, and will hold a series of bilateral meetings with partners and allied leaders from around the world.

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GCC Chief to Asharq Al-Awsat: Escalation Poses Grave Threat to Gulf Security

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Jasem Albudaiwi
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Jasem Albudaiwi
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GCC Chief to Asharq Al-Awsat: Escalation Poses Grave Threat to Gulf Security

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Jasem Albudaiwi
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Jasem Albudaiwi

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is maintaining regular and active communication with all international parties involved in the ongoing conflict, as part of broader diplomatic efforts to promote de-escalation, GCC Secretary-General Jasem Albudaiwi told Asharq Al-Awsat Wednesday.

Albudaiwi said the GCC views the military escalation between Iran and Israel as a “grave threat” to the security and stability of the Gulf region. He added that the Council, through its official channels, continues to emphasize that “dialogue and restraint” remain the most effective path to safeguarding regional security and stability.

As military confrontations between Israel and Iran entered their sixth day on Wednesday, Albudaiwi warned that the situation was “unprecedented and deeply concerning”.

Albudaiwi also noted that the GCC’s 48th extraordinary ministerial meeting on Monday concluded that the rapidly unfolding events could spiral into a wider regional conflict.

He added that the Council is ramping up diplomatic pressure, calling on all international actors -- including the UN Security Council -- to intervene and prevent further escalation.

Albudaiwi also pointed to the unified Gulf statement issued after the emergency meeting, alongside individual condemnations by all six GCC member states. The declarations denounced Israel’s strikes on Iran and called for immediate de-escalation and restraint.

The Secretary-General underscored the bloc’s ongoing diplomatic push, noting that Gulf states have urged the United States to pressure Israel into accepting an immediate ceasefire.

The GCC is also advocating for the revival of nuclear negotiations between Washington and Tehran, as part of a coordinated Gulf and international initiative to contain the crisis.

The GCC is holding regular talks with the United Nations, the United States, and allied nations as part of its diplomatic campaign to defuse tensions between Iran and Israel, Albudaiwi confirmed.

“These are the main formal channels for dialogue,” Albudaiwi told Asharq Al-Awsat, adding that the Council has sent unified diplomatic messages rejecting the ongoing escalation and urging restraint.

The communications also included calls to revive peace efforts in the region.

He explained that the GCC’s diplomatic engagement spans official correspondence, closed-door talks, and meetings held within international frameworks, all aimed at restoring regional stability and absorbing tensions without resorting to military options.

“Through this approach, GCC states are pursuing a comprehensive and balanced diplomatic strategy that hinges on communication and coordination with major international powers and global organizations,” Albudaiwi said.

“The objective is clear: to contain the crisis and prevent it from erupting into a broader regional confrontation,” he affirmed.

Albudaiwi mentioned that the GCC has reached “advanced levels” of coordination among member states to confront disasters and emergencies, including non-conventional threats such as chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear attacks.

He told Asharq Al-Awsat that Gulf states are actively engaged in joint preparedness efforts through early warning and detection networks, enabling rapid and coordinated responses to potential crises.

In light of growing concerns over potential fallout from Israeli strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, Albudaiwi stressed that the GCC states are equipped with sophisticated radiation and environmental monitoring systems.

These systems allow for the real-time exchange of data via secure channels among relevant national authorities to detect any abnormal indicators at an early stage.

He said this capability is supported by the GCC Emergency Management Center, which plays a key role in coordinating simulation exercises and joint drills focused on unconventional weapons scenarios. These efforts span civilian, security, and defense sectors and aim to boost collective readiness, update national emergency plans, and improve response coordination.

The drills, Albudaiwi noted, are conducted in line with global best practices and are backed by intergovernmental agreements involving defense, interior, and health ministries, all designed to reinforce the Gulf’s collective security framework in the face of emerging threats.