Moderator
Inclusive Governance & Political Processes
The Middle East at a Turning Point: Ceasefires, Transitions, New Alliances – and the Role of Regional and European Partners
Principles for Peace
The recent Iran war has accelerated a regional recalibration. Gulf states have faced direct exposure; Iran and its proxies continue to destabilise parts of the region; and governments are diversifying security partnerships and shifting alliances in a more volatile environment. Disruptions to key trade routes underscore how quickly localised violence can spill over into wider economic and strategic shocks.
Within this shifting landscape, some ceasefires are holding in fragile ways, while others remain elusive or at risk of collapse. Amid these uncertainties, Syria’s transition stands out as a hopeful, yet demanding, case: regional re engagement and early political steps offer a chance for a more inclusive horizon, but real progress will depend on sustained regional and European partnership on security, reconstruction and confidence building.
This opening session will set the strategic frame for the event: which alignments are likely to endure, how regional calculations are shifting after the shock, and what forms of cooperation could contain escalation and enable stabilisation and recovery.
Speakers
Moderator
