Manama: Mahmood Rafique, Editor: The 21st edition of Manama Dialogue Security Summit has set a record of global viewership of over 7millioin in the first two days. This year 25 per cent journalists attended compared to the previous year.
The Director-General and Chief Executive of the IISS, Dr. Bastian Giegerich, during his concluding remarks at the 6th Plenary Session applauded the host nation, Bahrain, for hosting the Security Summit of this scale in a professional and peaceful atmosphere. Dr Bastian in his remarks highlighted the challenges facing the region and underscored the need for unified international cooperation and efforts to address these issues and promote security and prosperity for all.
This year’s IISS Manama Dialogue was attended by 700 delegates from 65 nations and territories as well as involving 27 young leaders from nine nations. Over 35,00 individuals supported the Security Summit. Twenty-eight full Ministers, 11 Deputy Ministers, 24 Intelligence Heads, seven National Security Advisors, were other highlights of the IISS Manama Dialogue 2025. The IISS has facilitated 103 bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the event while there were many bilateral meetings held, not assisted by the IISS, making this year’s Summit a result oriented.
This year’s 21st IISS Manama Dialogue themed “regional power and statecraft amidst global change”. The position of Middle Eastern powers during periods of geopolitical transformation is of importance to the global community. Reconfigured international power dynamics and challenged norms are assessing the ability of regional powers to adapt through the judicious use of power and statecraft as they attempt to shape their futures and influence relationships with external powers. The Security Summit provided a rare opportunity to discuss these global trends to assess the trajectories of regional and extra-regional powers and to identify the implications for the Middle East.
Held annually since 2004 in the Kingdom of Bahrain, the IISS Manama Dialogue is a central element of the Middle East’s security architecture, promoting open discussion of the most pressing regional security and defence issues. This year, the IISS brings government leaders, defence officials, senior industry representatives, analysts, and media from the Middle East and beyond.
Without the support of the host nation, the Kingdom of Bahrain, it would have not possible to host the 21st edition of Manama Dialogue Security Summit and special thanks to HM King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa, and the HRH Crown Prince and the Prime Minister Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa for the continuous support as a host nation of the world’s premier security forum. The agenda of IISS is simple to foster the dialogue and facilitate cooperation in the service of peace, security and stability in a civilized world, Dr Bastian in his concluding remarks, said.
Concluding Plenary session titled “another nuclear age? strategic risk and opportunity” led by Dr Bastian Giegerich, Director-General and Chief Executive, IISS and Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone Chairman of the Military Committee, NATO and Ana Birchall Former Deputy Prime Minister for Strategic Partnerships and Minister of Justice, Romania, were the panelists.
The IISS is the primary source of accurate, objective information on international strategic issues for politicians and diplomats, foreign affairs analysts, international business, economists, the military, defence commentators, journalists, academics and the informed public. The Institute is independent, owing no allegiance to any governments or any political or other organisations. The IISS stresses rigorous research with a forward-looking policy orientation and places particular emphasis on bringing new perspectives to strategic discussions.
