Manama: Participants in the 21st International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Manama Dialogue praised Bahrain's role in fostering diplomacy and regional cooperation, describing the Kingdom as a trusted venue for open and constructive engagement.
According to Bahrain News Agency, as the three-day forum concluded yesterday, senior officials, diplomats, and analysts from across the world commended Bahrain's balanced approach and its long-standing commitment to dialogue as a means to promote peace and stability. Dr. Basimah Rowe, adviser to US Central Command, stressed the importance of the forum in bringing together leaders and young professionals. "The agenda brings together senior officials and emerging leaders a free exchange you rarely see elsewhere," she noted.
"Assembling these voices in one place is a diplomatic achievement in itself. When the region needs a balanced and credible leader willing to listen, Manama steps forward," Rowe added. Najib Ghasbian, Director of Strategic Studies at Syria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said Bahrain and its Gulf partners have become a leading force in seeking regional solutions. "What happens in one square kilometre now affects the whole world; dialogue is the beginning of recognising that interdependence," he said.
Akram Karimi, Tajikistan's Ambassador, praised Bahrain's pioneering role in promoting peace and stability, emphasising that dialogue and diplomacy remain essential to addressing current challenges. Maria Luisa Fantappie, Director of the Middle East Programme at Italy's Institute of International Affairs, said regional powers have shown moderation and pragmatism in contrast to global rhetoric, stressing that a two-state solution remains central to lasting peace.
Erwin van Veen from the Netherlands Institute of International Relations welcomed the renewed discussion on Palestine, saying it reflected "broad agreement on the need for more cooperative engagement," and commended Bahrain for "bringing major powers together in an open and constructive setting." Held annually in Manama since 2004, the IISS Manama Dialogue serves as a leading regional security and foreign policy forum, convening officials, military leaders, and experts from around 40 countries to discuss pressing global and regional issues.