The proceedings of the Iraqi Research Leadership Forum, organized by the Iraqi Group for Foreign Affairs, continued with the second session held under the title: “Security and Diplomacy: Iraq’s Trajectories in a Complex Geopolitical Environment,” with the participation of a select group of international Iraqi researchers working in the most prominent regional and international think tanks.
The session featured: Dr. Adel Bakawan, Head of the European Institute for the Study of the Middle East and North Africa; Dr. Shamiran Mako, Professor of International Relations at Boston University; Dr. Marsin Alshamary, Non-Resident Fellow at the Brookings Institution; Dr. Zaydoun Al-Kinani, Professor of International Relations at Georgetown University in Qatar; and Dr. Sarhang Hama Saeed, Director of the Middle East Program at the United States Institute of Peace (USIP). The session was moderated by Dr. Firas Elias, member of the Iraqi Group for Foreign Affairs.
The speakers discussed Iraq’s position on the map of regional and international balances and its growing role in achieving stability within a complex geopolitical environment undergoing rapid transformations. The session also addressed the security and diplomatic challenges facing Iraq and the available options for enhancing its regional standing by adopting balanced foreign policies based on dialogue and strategic partnership with various international parties.
Participants affirmed that Iraq possesses important components that qualify it to be a positive actor in its regional surroundings, provided that internal stability is strengthened and active diplomacy based on common interests and respect for national sovereignty is utilized.