On November 12-13, 2017, Abu-Dhabi hosted the Fourth Abu Dhabi Strategic Debate, organized by Emirates Policy Center with the support of UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The meeting brought together around 300 participants. Timur Makhmutov, RIAC Deputy Director of Programs, took part in the panel session on the role of Russia’s foreign policy in the Middle East region.
On November 12–13, 2017, Abu-Dhabi hosted the Fourth Abu Dhabi Strategic Debate, organized by Emirates Policy Center with the support of UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The meeting brought together around 300 participants. Timur Makhmutov, RIAC Deputy Director of Programs, took part in the panel session on the role of Russia’s foreign policy in the Middle East region.
Anwar Qarqash, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, made a speech at the conference opening. He underscored the importance of increasing the independent roles of the countries in the region, primarily in the Gulf countries, in order to solve security issues. According to Dr. Ebtisam Al-Ketbi, Chairwoman of Emirates Policy Center, Saudi Arabia is now becoming the UAE axis that will allow to bring positive dynamics within Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf and will have a positive impact on strengthening stability within the region. Other issues on the forum agenda focused on the relations between Arab countries and Iran, opportunities for their cooperation with Turkey and Russia, the policies of the U.S. administration in the Arab world, prospects for the countries of the Gulf to take part in development projects promoted by China, India, and Japan, and the impact of radical Islam on the political dynamics in the region.
The event displayed the need for discussions at such level to negotiate the major development issues of the Middle East and the leading players in the Gulf region.
