MANAMA: Abdulla Mohamed Al Ahmed, CEO of the Bahrain Centre for Strategic, International and Energy Studies (Derasat), participated in the 16th annual Gulf Research Meeting (GRM), organised by the Gulf Research Centre (GRC) and hosted at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom. The meeting brought together a distinguished gathering of around 50 senior policymakers, diplomats, and experts from the Arabian Gulf, Europe, and Asia.

 Al Ahmed participated as a speaker in two key sessions. The first was a closed high-level roundtable titled “Searching for Resilient Regional Security Pathways,” during which he emphasised that Arabian Gulf security is closely linked to global dynamics extending beyond the region’s borders.

 He noted that recent geopolitical developments had demonstrated the effectiveness of GCC defence systems and the strength of its existing strategic partnerships, emphasising the need to move toward an advanced phase of cooperation that includes building genuine defence and industrial partnerships and enhancing joint investment in research, development and advanced technologies.

 Al Ahmed also participated in the meeting’s opening panel discussion, which examined the impact of conflicts on Arabian Gulf societies and ways to address future challenges. He highlighted that recent challenges affecting supply chains and international maritime routes had underscored the importance of Gulf solidarity in ensuring the continued flow of essential goods.

 He emphasised the need to move from crisis management to proactive preparedness by strengthening logistical integration, developing early warning systems, and building on the outcomes of the Extraordinary Jeddah Summit to strengthen regional stability.