foreign and defense ministers, senior leaders, and various politicians, military officials and intellectuals from numerous countries. The conference addressed security and international policy issues in addition to a number of developments in global affairs.
Dr. Abdulaziz Sager, Chairman of the Gulf Research Center, participated in a session titled “Iran in the Middle East: Is Diplomacy the Answer” which was part of the annual Sir Bani Yas Forum, which was organized by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and held in Abu Dhabi from November 15-17, 2019 Under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and which included the participation of many foreign ministers from various countries in addition to senior officials, politicians and academic experts. The forum aimed to promote reflection and discussion on the region’s most pressing issues.
Dr. Abdulaziz Sager, Chairman of the Gulf Research Center, participated in the 2019 Paris Peace Forum on Tuesday, November 12th, which was inaugurated by the French President Emmanuel Macron with the participation of many heads of state and government. He participated in a session entitled “Bridging the Gulf: Imaging New Mechanisms to Avert a War in the Middle East.” The session aimed to find mechanisms to bring key actors together in a comprehensive process aimed at reducing tensions in the Middle East, opening channels of communication, and engaging in dialogue on various issues. It also discussed potential long-term security arrangements that could stabilize the region.
Dr. Abdulaziz Sager, Chairman of the Gulf Research Center, participated in the “Core Group” meeting of the Munich Security Conference on 27 October in Cairo, which was sponsored by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and with the participation of international dignitaries. The conference discussed the political and security dynamics in the Middle East and Africa including regional security cooperation.
Dr. Abdulaziz Sager, Chairman of the Gulf Research Center, participated in the 15th Regional Security Summit (Manama Dialogue 2019) held in the Kingdom of Bahrain November 22-24, 2019, which was organized by Bahrain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in cooperation with the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) to discuss security challenges in the Middle East, including regional competition and cooperation, US policy and coalition relations, maritime security, conflicts and diplomacy, regional security, and other political issues. Participants included ministers, senior government officials, and experts from all over the world in various political, security and defense fields.
Dr. Abdulaziz Sager, Chairman of the Gulf Research Center, spoke at the 21st Arab-German Business Forum organized by the Arab-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry and held in Berlin, Germany. Dr. Sager spoke about the political and economic challenges and the perspectives of Arab-German cooperation. The event was attended by more than 600 participants representing the government and the business sector. The partner country was Kuwait with H.E. Shaikh Jabir Al-Mubarak Al Hamad Al-Sabah, the Prime Minister of the State of Kuwait providing a keynote address.
GRC Chairman Dr. Abdulaziz Sager was invited by the Arab League Delegation in Paris to participate in a discussion at the Arab World Institute (Institut du Monde Arabe) on “the future of the Arab world in light of remaining challenges.” The discussion took place as part of a celebratory event marking the 72nd anniversary of the founding of the Arab League. Dr. Sager specifically addressed the challenges of an “Arab identity,” including youth and radicalization as a result of globalization.
GRC Chairman Dr. Abdulaziz Sager participated in a Chatham House conference along with 200 others on 15 March 2017 on “Syria: International Policy Options after Six Years of Failure,” which marked six years since the start of the conflict in Syria. Dr. Sager spoke in the conference’s second panel on the “Role of Regional Actors,” where he looked at the policies of regional actors, specifically the GCC countries, Iran, Russia and Turkey, towards the Syria conflict and assessed how developments in Syria and the international environment have affected their decision making.
Dr. Abdulaziz Sager, Chairman of the GRC and Dr. Christian Koch, Director of the GRC Foundation both attended the third annual Gulf Studies Forum held by the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies in Doha, Qatar. Dr. Sager spoke on the panel of “Regional Security: Questions and Challenges” with a paper on “Gulf-Turkey Relations” while Dr. Koch spoke on the panel of “GCC Relations with the Great Powers” with a paper entitled “Gulf-Europe Relations: Changing Dynamics”. The conference brought together more than 100 participants from throughout the Gulf region, the Middle East and beyond.
Dr. Abdulaziz Sager, Chairman of the GRC and Dr. Christian Koch, Director of the GRC Foundation spoke and participated in the 9th Edition of the World Policy Conference held in Doha, State of Qatar. Dr. Sager spoke in the opening plenary session of the future of the Middle East.
