The Middle East Seminar took place at the NATO Defense College on 15 and 16 November, and was an opportunity to reflect on the current geopolitical events in the Middle East. The two-day seminar, tailored to participants of Senior Course 143 (SC 143), aimed to provide a strategic overview of major political-military and security issues affecting the region. The first day lent a special focus on Iran and the Arab Gulf States.
The agenda encompassed a detailed analysis of Iran’s political-military structure, its regional influence, and an exploration of current drivers of instability, coupled with potential future developments. Guest lecturers examined the security challenges faced by Arab Gulf countries.
This involved a nuanced assessment of the roles played by major regional and international actors, including the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), NATO, and the European Union (EU). A critical aspect of the seminar was to consider how NATO, the EU, and other significant stakeholders can contribute to promoting security and stability in the region.
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict and its impact on the area, together with an analysis on the recent events, was the focus of the second day of this seminar. A panel of experts provided an overview of the various issues that drive the situation. Discussions examined the geopolitical challenges in the region, and possible future scenarios.
In an engaging afternoon session, Senior Course 143 took part in in Committee discussions divided into seven groups, they shared ideas and consolidated topics covered by the distinguished lecturers: as Dr Razoux, Dr Pedde, Dr Colombo, Professor Greilsammer, Dr Tartir and Dr Persson.
The MDC Middle East Seminar proved instrumental in fostering a deeper understanding of the current geopolitical landscape in the Middle East and recent events. By facilitating dialogue and collaborative thinking among Course Members, it provided a perspective on the region’s challenges and their impact on global security and the role of major external actors.
NDC Public Affairs Office
(Prepared by Mr David Lucio Rossi, ITA C)
Collège de Défense de l'OTAN