Agenda

Opening Address
His Excellency the President of the Republic of Iraq

Address by the High Patron
His Excellency Qubad Talabani, Deputy Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government

Opening Keynote — THE MIDDLE EAST AND THE WORLD: A NEW STRATEGIC MOMENT
A major international address on the changing place of the Middle East in global affairs and the new relationships taking shape among regional powers, the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe and Asia.

The period following major military confrontation will be defined by the political arrangements, diplomatic understandings and international partnerships that emerge from it. This session will consider how regional and global actors can translate the present moment into a durable framework for peace, stability and renewed cooperation.

The United States remains indispensable to the region’s strategic balance, diplomatic architecture, economic development and technological future. This session will examine the next phase of American engagement and the expectations, responsibilities and opportunities that define the partnership between Washington and the Middle East.

Invitation-only working lunches for ministers, senior officials and heads of delegation.

The Gulf occupies a central place in global energy, trade and security. This panel will examine how diplomatic alignment, economic interdependence and credible strategic commitments can reinforce confidence and support the Gulf’s role as a pillar of regional and international stability.

The Levant remains central to the political and strategic future of the wider Middle East. This session will consider the role of the United States in supporting political engagement, regional coordination, economic recovery and stronger relationships among the states and societies of the Levant.

The region is witnessing a renewed emphasis on mediation, dialogue and pragmatic engagement. This session will explore the growing role of mediating powers, the use of discreet diplomatic channels and the emergence of new political alignments capable of broadening regional cooperation.

Security cooperation is ultimately sustained by political confidence, common interests and clear understandings of responsibility. This panel will examine how regional states and international partners can strengthen coordination while respecting sovereignty, preserving strategic autonomy and building durable political trust.

Iraq lies at the intersection of the Gulf, Iran, Türkiye and the Levant and maintains important relationships with the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe and Asia. This session will examine Iraq’s growing capacity to serve as a diplomatic interlocutor, an economic bridge and a stabilising regional actor.

A private discussion among ministers, senior officials, security leaders and policy experts on the political and institutional foundations of regional security.

The roundtable will consider crisis communication, counterterrorism, border management, cyber resilience, critical-infrastructure protection, organised crime, emergency preparedness and the mechanisms required for more effective regional coordination.

The meeting will be conducted under Chatham House Rule.

The future of the Middle East will be shaped by the evolving relationships among its principal regional powers. This session will assess the balance emerging among the Gulf states, Iran, Türkiye and the wider Arab world, and the opportunities for structured engagement, mutual accommodation and regional stability.

Energy remains central to the strategic relationship between the Middle East and the wider world. This session will examine changing markets, new technologies, evolving patterns of demand and the continuing role of producer states in shaping global economic and political outcomes.

The region’s next phase of growth will be shaped by its ability to convert energy wealth into productive capital, industry, technology and human development. This session will consider sovereign investment, economic diversification, institutional reform and the emergence of new models of regional growth.

Dedicated time for meetings among ministers, investors, institutional leaders and business delegations.

A closed session bringing together government leaders, sovereign funds, institutional investors, private-capital firms and major international companies.

The discussion will focus on investment frameworks, regulatory confidence, infrastructure, energy, industry, technology, financial services and the mobilisation of long-term capital across Iraq, the Kurdistan Region and the wider Middle East.

Trade routes, ports, railways, energy networks and digital infrastructure are redefining the strategic geography linking the Middle East, Europe and Asia. This session will examine how connectivity can deepen economic integration, create new centres of influence and reshape international partnerships.

Asia’s economic and political engagement with the Middle East is expanding across energy, infrastructure, finance, manufacturing and technology. This session will explore the region’s evolving relationships with China, India, Japan, South Korea and the wider Indo-Pacific.

Britain and Europe maintain deep and long-standing relationships across the Middle East. This session will examine the future of cooperation in diplomacy, security, energy, trade, investment, education and technology, and the role of European partners in the region’s long-term development.

Political transitions are defining moments in the life of states. This session will consider how leadership change, institutional reform and generational renewal can be managed in ways that preserve continuity, strengthen public confidence and reinforce effective government.

The closing plenary will examine the political foundations of a more durable regional order. Discussion will focus on permanent diplomatic channels, institutionalised mediation, strategic partnerships, economic interdependence and sustained engagement between the Middle East, the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe and Asia.

Closing remarks bringing the two-day programme to a conclusion and setting out the vision for the next edition of the Slemani Strategic Forum.