Top politicians and government officials from across the world will gather tonight in Bahrain for the annual Regional Security Summit — the Manama Dialogue. The purpose of the summit will be to discuss global security matters. The first time such a gathering was held was in 2004, in Manama.
Organised by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), the Manama Dialogue will look to provide a forum for the national security establishments of the participating states to exchange views on regional security challenges. The IISS holds the summit to create a stage where multilateral diplomacy can do its work.
By our correspondent
MANAMA — Top politicians and government officials from across the world will gather tonight in Bahrain for the annual Regional Security Summit — the Manama Dialogue. The purpose of the summit will be to discuss global security matters. The first time such a gathering was held was in 2004, in Manama.
Organised by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), the Manama Dialogue will look to provide a forum for the national security establishments of the participating states to exchange views on regional security challenges. The IISS holds the summit to create a stage where multilateral diplomacy can do its work.
In February 2007, IISS signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Bahrain government to conduct the Manama Dialogue annually through to 2011.
Delegations from 23 governments will attend the summit. The American delegation is likely to be led by US Defence Secretary Robert Gates.
There will also be private bilateral and multilateral meetings. Issues at the public plenary sessions include, ‘The United States and the regional balance of power; Iran, Iraq and Saudi Arabia; Energy and regional security; territorial integrity, borders and Gulf security; Iraq and the neighbourhood; and regional framework for Gulf security’.
Non-public break-out sessions will address more sensitive issues like, ‘Shia-Sunni relations; regional armed forces and security policy; transnational threats; and economic security, sanctions and regional stability.”
