International Institute for Strategic Studies

Drawing on his research for the latest edition of Charting Middle East, our series of data-driven regional insights, IISS Senior Fellow for Middle East Policy Dr Hasan T. Alhasan explains how Gulf states are signing preferential trade agreements as an adaptation mechanism in response to global economic uncertainty, and to rising barriers to trade, through tariffs and other forms of protection. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eUwSwntv 21st IISS Manama Dialogue   31 October–2 November 2025  #IISSMD25  https://go.iiss.org/MD25

Lebanon, Palestine and Syria have seen dramatic changes in their political trajectories in the past two years. In each case, external support is contingent upon specific commitments and deliverables. This session will take stock of the progress achieved in each of these countries as well as present and future challenges.  🔹Dr Asaad Hasan Al-Shaibani, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Syria 🔹Dr Anwar Gargash, Diplomatic Advisor to the President, Ministry of Presidential Affairs, United Arab Emirates 🔹Dr Varsen Aghabekian Shahin, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Palestine 🔹Dr Manal Radwan, Minister Plenipotentiary, Head of the Negotiating Team, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Saudi Arabia Join the Fifth Plenary of this years’ IISS Manama Dialogue. 21st IISS Manama Dialogue  31 October–2 November 2025  #IISSMD25  https://go.iiss.org/MD25

Next steps for the stabilisation, security and governance of Gaza, Syria’s future and calls not to overlook the crisis in Sudan dominated the discussion on ‘The Future of Global Security Governance’ during the first plenary session at the IISS Manama Dialogue. On Gaza, Ayman Safadi, Jordan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates said: ‘The big question is how do we create a political horizon that will restore hope, that will restore faith in the viability of peace?’ Germany’s Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Johann Wadephul called for a new sense of optimism to address governance challenges: ‘We need to be clear. The only reason we finally see a positive development both in Syria and in Gaza is because we saw an alignment of forces, not a complete alignment, of course, that never happens, but just enough to make it happen.’ UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs The Rt Hon. Yvette Cooper MP said: ‘Whether in Sudan, Gaza or Ukraine … international cooperation has been and continues to be crucial. Sometimes that has taken new forms through the coalition of the willing, through the partnerships built up around achieving the ceasefire agreement in Gaza. But in those cases, individual leadership has depended on strong partnerships. And that is why we need to continually modernise our global architecture. To ensure that it can be there when we need it to deliver the security and the peace that all of us need.’ Watch the full discussion > 21st IISS Manama Dialogue 31 October–2 November 2025 #IISSMD25 https://go.iiss.org/MD25

Air Marshal (Retd) Martin ‘Sammy’ Sampson, Executive Director, IISS–Middle East, explains the privileged role that the IISS plays in putting on the IISS Manama Dialogue, as well as the work of the IISS–Middle East team throughout the year. Now in its 21st year, the Dialogue has grown into a trusted platform and a place for people to gather, to share their opinions, and to be challenged on those opinions. 21st IISS Manama Dialogue   31 October–2 November 2025  #IISSMD25 https://go.iiss.org/MD25

Lithium, rare earths and copper are increasingly important resources in a post-oil economy, even for hydrocarbon economies such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Oman. Asna Wajid, Research Analyst at IISS–Middle East, explains how these countries are making investments and forging partnerships to access upstream stakes in resource-rich regions such as Africa and Latin America, as well as investing heavily in their downstream capabilities, in order to foster resilience in their economies. Charting Middle East | Read more: https://lnkd.in/ePsUtciw 21st IISS Manama Dialogue   31 October–2 November 2025  #IISSMD25  https://go.iiss.org/MD25

As Syria remains deeply fragmented, understanding who governs — and how — has never been more critical. A new IISS report, From Fragmentation to Integration: Prospects for Security Sector Reform in Post-Assad Syria, analyses the country’s diverse armed actors and their impact on local governance, regional stability and international engagement. The study provides detailed information for policy and peacebuilding efforts. 💡Read the report by Wolf-Christian Paes, Lea Ellmanns, Edward Beales, Laith Alajlouni and Gregory Waters here: https://lnkd.in/evMzrjF7 🌐 Join IISS Manama Dialogue 2025 this weekend to hear more from ministers, policymakers and decision-makers on how to address the Middle East’s most pressing foreign-policy, defence and security challenges. 21st IISS Manama Dialogue 31 October–2 November 2025 #IISSMD25 https://go.iiss.org/MD25

Global governance is changing due to the United States’ geopolitical priorities, China’s greater profile, Europe’s struggles and the rise of middle powers. States are instead investing more in the development of bilateral and minilateral relationships. 🔹 Ayman Safadi, Deputy Prime Minister; Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Jordan 🔹 Dr Johann Wadephul, Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs, Germany 🔹 The Rt Hon. Yvette Cooper MP, Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, United Kingdom Join the First Plenary of this years’ IISS Manama Dialogue. 21st IISS Manama Dialogue    31 October–2 November 2025   #IISSMD25   https://go.iiss.org/MD25

Opening the debate at this year’s IISS Manama Dialogue, Bahrain’s National Security Advisor, HH Lieutenant General Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, and The Hon. Tulsi Gabbard, Director of National Intelligence, United States, shared their views on regional security developments, and the progress and potential of the Comprehensive Security Integration and Prosperity Agreement (C-SIPA) signed by the United States and Bahrain in 2023. Sheikh Nasser described the recent adoption of the Gaza peace plan as ‘a window of opportunity for renewed regional stability and cooperation. These outcomes underscore the importance of diplomacy, partnership and pragmatic dialogue in resolving long-standing disputes and fostering sustainable regional resolution.' Tulsi Gabbard explained that ‘America First is not about isolating ourselves. As President Trump has shown, it's about engaging in direct diplomacy, being willing to have conversations that others are not willing to have, and finding that path forward where our mutual sovereign interests are aligned.’ On C-SIPA, Sheikh Nasser explained that he views it not as a bilateral, trilateral, multilateral agreement but a global one, that can be used creatively. ‘We will see C-SIPA evolving and we will see new opportunities and hopefully new flags joining the multilateral agreement,’ he said. 21st IISS Manama Dialogue 31 October–2 November 2025 #IISSMD25 https://go.iiss.org/MD25

We are delighted to welcome a new group of young professionals and leaders to take part in this year’s IISS Manama Dialogue Middle East and North Africa Young Leaders’ Programme. So far, our Young Leaders have been taking part in a special programme of roundtable discussions and events, and we look forward to their contributions to the main Dialogue programme as it gets underway later today. The programme is generously sponsored by the Gulf Cooperation Council and the British Embassy in Bahrain. IISS Manama Dialogue Middle East and North Africa Young Leaders’ Programme 30 October–2 November 2025 #MDYoungLeaders https://lnkd.in/e3CiJYXy

Welcome to the 21st IISS Manama Dialogue in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Over the next three days, we’ll host ministers, policymakers and decision-makers from across the Middle East and beyond to debate the region’s most pressing foreign-policy, defence and security challenges. The full list of speakers and sessions is available on our website now. We’ll be sharing live streams, video recordings, expert analysis and more, so do tune into what promises to be a fascinating weekend of high-level discussion. 21st IISS Manama Dialogue 31 October–2 November 2025 #IISSMD25 https://go.iiss.org/MD25