Author name: Soliman M

The virtual panel titled ‘Competition or Cooperation: The Horn of African and Broader Red Sea Basin at a Crossroads’, was moderated by Ambassador Frank G. Wisner, along with the speakers, Ambassador Alexander Rondos, Abdul Mohammed, Abdulaziz Sager, and Kate Almquist Knopf. The virtual panel discussion focused attention on heightened tensions in the Horn of Africa and wider Red Sea basin, strategic area that has become a hub for regional and global power competition and investment.

The final outcome of the panel discussion focused on four key conclusions:

-Each Red Sea basin country, given its own circumstances, is required to define its way forward in order to achieve the right kind of stable outcome. The support of external players is important, without interfering in political transitions

-Second, the need to intensify Red Sea cooperation, especially with the Gulf states as this region is mostly affected by the situation in the Horn

-Third, importance of conflict management among rivalries in the region; competition involving Turkey, Qatar, and with great powers such as the U.S. and China

-Finally, reinforcing the fact that the Horn of Africa region and wider Red Sea basin are in need of help; whether through debt relief, development assistance, and private investments. These are opportunities leading towards a path of greater understanding of the of the many issues that the region faces

Recorded Virtual Panel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B74wfTmyLHs&feature=youtu.be

The conference included two sessions, with the first one focused on the last seventy-five years since the United Nations was established, and on how COVID-19 has tested international organizations and multilateralism.

The second session discussed updates on COVID-19 and the role of strengthening international cooperation on vaccine production and distribution.

the Gulf Research Center spoke at the Beirut Institute’s Summit e-Policy Circle 12, discussing the Gulf countries post COVID-19 and the effects of the pandemic on political, security and economic dimensions

Cambridge Middle East and North Africa Forum organised a webinar entitled ‘Change and Continuity in Middle East Geopolitics’ on Monday 29th, June 2020 which covered the topic of geopolitical changes in the region in the context of COVID-19

The discussions focused on a various topics, ‘Would Iran try to use nuclear energy in Tump’s second term?’, ‘Will Biden’s election give hope in Israeli-Palestinian negotiations?’, ‘What does the decline in relations between the United States and China mean for the Middle East?’, ‘What role does the UK play in the region’. Dr. Abdulaziz, Chairman of the Gulf Research Center participated as a speaker as part of the panel, which included a politicians, experts and researchers from the Middle East region, Europe and the United States. During his talk, Dr. Abdulaziz discussed and analysed these topics and answered a number of questions from the participants
Cambridge Middle East and North Africa Forum organised a webinar entitled ‘Change and Continuity in Middle East Geopolitics’ on Monday 29th, June 2020 which covered the topic of geopolitical changes in the region in the context of COVID-19

The discussions focused on a various topics, ‘Would Iran try to use nuclear energy in Tump’s second term?’, ‘Will Biden’s election give hope in Israeli-Palestinian negotiations?’, ‘What does the decline in relations between the United States and China mean for the Middle East?’, ‘What role does the UK play in the region’. Dr. Abdulaziz, Chairman of the Gulf Research Center participated as a speaker as part of the panel, which included a politicians, experts and researchers from the Middle East region, Europe and the United States. During his talk, Dr. Abdulaziz discussed and analysed these topics and answered a number of questions from the participants