Right-handed shape
Dialogue gives an additional dimension to calm diplomatic consultation before major summits
The “Manama Dialogue” is gaining momentum with Bahrain assuming a seat in the Security Council in 2026
Executive Director of the International Institute for Strategic Studies in the Middle East, Lieutenant General Martin Sampson, confirmed that the twenty-first edition of the Manama Dialogue is gaining strong momentum this year in the midst of global changes and the enormous geopolitical transformations taking place in the region and the role of the Middle East in these transformations.
He explained in a press conference held at the institute’s headquarters in Manama that the government of Bahrain is distinguished by its ability to create a space for talks that take place on the sidelines of the dialogue. The special importance of this version lies in the fact that Bahrain will take its seat in the United Nations Security Council for the year 2026, and there will be many topics that will be discussed with friendly countries regarding that mission.
The Institute’s Executive Director stressed the Kingdom’s growing international role in its support for the dialogue, especially since it hosted the Gulf Cooperation Council summit, which gives the Manama Dialogue an additional dimension as an area for calm diplomatic consultation before major summits.
In his answer to Al-Watan’s question about the expectations of the third decade of the dialogue, Samson said: “We hope that the third decade will be more stable and peaceful, but we realize the difficulty of that, and our goal is to be reliable and honest partners with everyone, and to continue the dialogue throughout the year, not only during the days of the conference.”
He explained that this dialogue seeks to be a catalyst for constructive discussion between the various parties, and that its primary role is to provide a safe space for understanding instead of conflict. Regarding the countries participating in the Manama Dialogue, he pointed out that last year witnessed the attendance of about 65 countries, and he said: “This year we sent invitations to the same number and we are still receiving responses, but we expect the participation of between 40-60 countries, and perhaps more, as some new countries have expressed their desire to join after developing their relations with the region, and the final list of delegations will be issued within the next two weeks, indicating that international interest in participation is very great this year.
Regarding the topics presented on the agenda of the “Manama Dialogue 21,” he noted the main title, “Regional Power and the Art of State Administration Amid Global Changes,” pointing out the reshaping of power dynamics the world is witnessing and the upcoming new challenges and developments that test the ability of regional powers to adapt. Therefore, these events dominated the dialogue agenda for this year, and he added, “But on the other hand, we are keen to conduct and strengthen the largest possible number of Discussions and agreements, whether defense, trade, economic, political, energy or security.
Sampson stated that the number of bilateral meetings held on the sidelines of the dialogue last year exceeded 500, while the number of participants in the dialogue reached 3,500 people, many of whom are officials, and there are many meetings between the leaders attending the dialogue that result in inter-agency agreements. He stressed that the “Manama Dialogue” represents an important opportunity to conclude agreements and meetings between officials and even informal meetings that take place and the interventions of participants from countries around the world. He said: “This is the primary role of the annual event, in which attendees can experience soft power and its role in shaping international policies.”
He pointed out that there are many conflicts, challenges, competition and unknown spaces between countries, and what the Manama Dialogue and the Kingdom of Bahrain support is removing this ambiguity and providing a space for interaction between officials and working to prevent competition from turning into a conflict and researching how to avoid it from happening, with the presence of a large number of experts, officials and decision makers, as understandings occur on the margins of the dialogue. He pointed out that there are people working to prepare for such meetings that will be held between ministers from different countries, and to develop plans to maximize the benefits of this important meeting.
Regarding the obligatory nature of the ideas presented in the Manama Dialogue, Sampson stressed that whatever is discussed is not binding. He said: “If you remember the first version of the Manama Dialogue and the last version, there are people who attend every year, but ideas change and cross-fertilize to come up with new concepts, and we study very carefully who attended and who interacted, what was the public’s reaction, the reactions on social media, and the things that matter most to people. Therefore, the Manama Dialogue is simply a living work, and it grows year after year.”
He stressed that the course of the dialogue must be compatible with the trends of the region and in line with the interests of those concerned. He said: “As things change, we will notice that the agenda this year includes some matters that were not previously on the agenda, and it will include diplomatic, economic and defense topics of interest to the region, and we have a plenary session entitled “Securing the Gulf” that will discuss the forces present in the Arabian Gulf region.”
He pointed to one of the topics raised on the dialogue agenda, which is the geopolitics of energy, technology, trade, and the balance of power in the region and the connection of these matters to the South Asia region, Europe, and the Americas, and he stressed that this topic comes at the top of the agenda.
Regarding Syria’s participation in this edition, Samson explained that the institute has communicated directly with the Syrian leadership over the past weeks, and there is optimism about its participation this year, especially with the presence of a session discussing political transformations in the Levant and coexistence between different sects, stressing the close connection to this issue and the region.
He noted the topic of another session that will discuss the dangers of nuclear weapons and strategic opportunities, with a growing interest in small nuclear reactors and their use in civilian nuclear energy systems, explaining that there are many agreements being signed in this regard and there are question marks about the Iranian nuclear program. He stated that the agenda of the Manama Dialogue in its twenty-first edition was completed last February, and is considered the result of discussions from the previous Manama Dialogue. He said: “The Manama Dialogue is one of the greatest events of the International Institute for Strategic Studies.”
