On November 11–12, 2018, Abu Dhabi hosted the fifth annual expert meeting within the strategic dialog organized by Emirates Policy Center with the support of the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Traditionally the event gathers a large number of specialists in international relations, regional security, and Middle Eastern issues. Andrey Kortunov, RIAC Director General, made a speech at the session devoted to the role of Russia in the modern world, including in the Middle East. The expert participants from Russia also included Oksana Gaman-Golutvina, Head of Comparative Politics Department at MGIMO MFA, and Timur Makhmutov, RIAC Deputy Director of Programs.
On November 11–12, 2018, Abu Dhabi hosted the fifth annual expert meeting within the strategic dialog organized by Emirates Policy Center with the support of the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Traditionally the event gathers a large number of specialists in international relations, regional security, and Middle Eastern issues. Andrey Kortunov, RIAC Director General, made a speech at the session devoted to the role of Russia in the modern world, including in the Middle East. The expert participants from Russia also included Oksana Gaman-Golutvina, Head of Comparative Politics Department at MGIMO MFA, and Timur Makhmutov, RIAC Deputy Director of Programs.
The forum was opened by Anwar Gargash, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates, and Ibtisam Al-Kitbi, President of the Emirates Policy Centre. They underscored the unique experience of the UAE in resolving issues of the country’s internal development, as well as in strengthening its international position.
This year, the organizers suggested that the participants focus on the fundamental issue of world politics — the role of power in international relations. The participants discussed the ratio between “soft” and “hard” power using the example of the US, Russia, EU, China, and India’s foreign policy, the impact of energy markets on world processes, the nature of power in the modern world, the quality of public administration and its impact on the stability of countries and regions. Andrey Kortunov, RIAC Director General, pointed out the importance of analyzing the views of country leaders on key issues of the world agenda. It is the lack of understanding or poor knowledge of the motives that predetermined decision-making in the leading states of the world, which results in a dramatic disruption of regional and global stability, and an increase in international tension.
The forum also discussed the processes occurring in the Arab world and on the African continent, as well as the external influence on them. Special attention was paid to the foreign policy of Turkey, Iran, and Qatar.
The impressive array of experts assembled in the strategic dialog allowed for a fruitful discussion and expansion of ideas about current international trends.
