The conference “Middle East: From Chaos to the New (Dis)Order” aims to shed light on the intricate and dynamic forces shaping the Middle East and North Africa (MENA)/West Asia region. Amid global geopolitical turbulence, the MENA region stands as a crucible of transformation, influencing both regional and international landscapes.

Our partners are IPIS (Institute for Political and International Studies IPIS/MFA), Iran, Amersi Foundation, the United Kingdom, CCG (Center for China&Globalization), China, IFIMES (International Institute for the Middle East and Balkan Studies), BRIRL (the Belt and Road Initiative Research Lab), Romania, and ILD (Institute for Freedom and Democracy), Romania. The media partners are Nine O’Clock (https://nineoclock.ro/), Ziarul News (www.ziarulnews.ro), Future Economy Magazine (www.futureeconomy.ro), Financial Intelligence (https://financialintelligence.ro/), and Modern Diplomacy (https://moderndiplomacy.eu/). The Forum brings together the representatives of the Romanian institutions, the think-thank representatives, the mass media, and the diplomatic corps (international and national).

The devastating attacks of October 7, 2023, have deepened divisions, intensifying conflicts and reshaping power dynamics. These shifts challenge global norms, sparking urgent calls for fresh perspectives on security, economic stability, and diplomatic innovation. At the core of this turmoil lies the enduring Israeli-Palestinian conflict, its shockwaves rippling across the region. As the Gaza crisis escalates, the broader Middle East/West Asia faces a fractured reality. By mid-2025, rising tensions between Israel and Iran have further destabilized fragile peace in Lebanon, Syria, and beyond. Regional powers are recalibrating strategies, while global actors – such as the United States, Russia, China, and the EU – compete to shape the emerging global order, each advancing their strategic interests. Beyond geopolitics, the conference explores the rise of new global formats, like BRICS+ and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), and their profound implications for the MENA region. These evolving alignments demand innovative frameworks for cooperation, moving beyond outdated power structures. Economic corridors are pivotal to the region’s future. Trade routes linking East Asia, Central Asia, India, the Persian Gulf, and Europe, alongside emerging networks in the Eastern Mediterranean, offer vast strategic and economic potential.

The Eastern Mediterranean, in particular, is emerging as a vital hub for energy resources and a battleground for control over gas reserves, with escalating geopolitical stakes. Technological advancements, particularly in Artificial Intelligence (AI), are revolutionizing warfare and infrastructure. AI’s integration into military and defense systems introduces both opportunities and challenges for regional and global security. In parallel, AI-driven innovations in transport and logistics are transforming trade and connectivity, weaving the MENA region deeper into the global technological fabric. Yet, the region faces persistent economic hurdles. Soaring inflation, youth unemployment, and volatile oil markets expose economic vulnerabilities. As the global economy shifts toward a multipolar structure, MENA nations navigate a landscape less tied to the US dollar and more resistant to traditional sanctions. Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries are diversifying their economies, pursuing bold post-oil visions while expanding influence across the Levant and beyond.

The conference offers a dynamic platform for dialogue, bringing together experts, diplomats, and regional stakeholders to chart the path forward. Through vibrant discussions, we aim to foster resilience, encourage public-private collaboration, and empower the region’s dynamic youth. Navigating from chaos to a new (dis)order demands bold innovation, skilled diplomacy, and a unified commitment to cooperation amid complexity.

AGENDA

Thursday, 30 October 2025

08:30 – 09:30 Registration and Welcome Coffee/Tea

09:30 – 09:50 Official Opening and Welcome Remarks

09:50 – 10:30 Keynote Speeches

10:30 – 12:00 Session I: The Emerging New Middle East (Dis)Order: Political and Security Approach (Part I)

This session explores the evolving dynamics and power structures within the Middle East region, focusing on shifts in regional alliances, the influence of various actors, and the potential for new forms of cooperation or conflict.

Subtopics: Shifting Alliances and Rivalries, The Future of Governance, Security Challenges.

12:00 – 12:30 Coffee/Tea Break and Networking

12:30 – 14:00 Session II: The Emerging New Middle East (Dis)Order: Legal, Political and Security Approach (Part II)

14:00 – 15:00 Networking Lunch

15:00 – 16:30 Session III: Prospects for Peace in the Middle East – The Latest Developments in the Region and the Status of State and Non-State Actors

This session tackles the latest developments in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the war in Yemen, the situation in Syria, and the prospects of non-state actors’ reconciliation into the international community, including the New Syrian Government and Hamas.

Moreover, this session will discuss the difficulties and lessons learned of covering ongoing conflict areas in the Middle East, including the Gaza Strip, Syria and Yemen.

Subtopics: Reconciliations prospects of non-state actors, The two-states solution, Regional rivalries, Impartiality, Misinformation, Balancing information needs with ethics.

Parallel Session IV: Regional Media Approaches to Covering Crises

This session discusses the difficulties and lessons learned of covering ongoing conflict areas in the Middle East, including the Gaza Strip, Syria and Yemen.

Subtopics: Impartiality, Misinformation, Balancing information needs with ethics.

16:30 – 17:00 Coffee Break/Tea and Networking

17:00 – 18:40 Session IV: Non-Traditional Security Issues: Connectivity, Energy and Environment in the Middle East, Global South, BRICS+, and ASEAN

The panel focuses on the interconnected issues of regional connectivity, energy security in the Middle East, and explores the hindrances (e.g. threat of tariffs) that are impacting the Middle East’s supply chain and energy resources.

Moreover, this session emphasizes the growing economic and political influence of Asia in an emerging international context, shifting power dynamics, increasing interconnectedness, and GCC-ASEAN Relationship.

Subtopics: Obstacles impacting Middle East resource infrastructure, economic corridors – like the Belt and Road Initiative or the IMEC, the potential for these corridors to exacerbate or mitigate existing geopolitical tensions, energy security initiatives. The prospects of Asia cooperation in the Middle East.

18:40 Conclusions and Final Remarks