Dr. Abdulaziz Sager, Chairman of the Gulf Research Center, participated in the 15th Regional Security Summit (Manama Dialogue 2019) held in the Kingdom of Bahrain November 22-24, 2019, which was organized by Bahrain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in cooperation with the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) to discuss security challenges in the Middle East, including regional competition and cooperation, US policy and coalition relations, maritime security, conflicts and diplomacy, regional security, and other political issues. Participants included ministers, senior government officials, and experts from all over the world in various political, security and defense fields.
Dr. Christian Koch, Director of the GRCF, held discussions at the German Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy with Dr. Dorothea Schütz, Deputy Director; Dr. Kristina Heussner, Head of Division, North Africa, Near and Middle East; Dr. Dorothee Schneider, Office for Strategic Projects abroad; Daniel Leimner, Executive Officer, Division North Africa, Near and Middle East; and Sabine Domke, Division VD3. They discussed development in Saudi Arabia and in the rest of the Gulf as well as the current status of Germany-Saudi relations.
The Gulf Research Center participated in the World Congress of Middle East Studies 2018 in Seville, Spain. The meeting, which happens every 4 years, brings together nearly 3,000 participants with over 400 panel sessions, roundtables and symposia. Dr, Koch, Director of the GRC Foundation took part in numerous panels discussions related to the Gulf region and the Middle East. As part of the meeting, there was also a Think tank forum bringing together think tank representatives from around the region. More information and a full program of WOCMES can be found here: http://wocmes2018seville.org/web/index.php/en/
Dr. Christian Koch, Director of the Gulf Research Center Foundation participation in a discussion organized by the Körber Foundation in Berlin with Dr. Kamal Kharrazi, Foreign Policy Advisor to the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran and President of the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations. The discussion focused on Iran’s role in regional affairs and options for Europe following the U.S. withdrawal from the nuclear deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.
Dr. Christian Koch met with Philip Boyes of Project Associates in Berlin. Project Associates are a communications firm based in London with field office in Brussels, Berlin and Paris. They have clients in Europe and are also expanding their relations into the Middle East. During the meeting, views were exchanged on forms of cooperation and where the GRC can provide assistance to Project Associates operations.
Dr. Christian Koch, Director of the GRC Foundation, participated in the Senior Course 132 of the NATO Defence College. In addition to a 45-minute lecture entitled “Saudi Arabia: Challenges, Opportunities and Prospects” followed by questions and answers, Dr. Koch also gave a seminar to course members as well as a working lunch with senior NATO Defence College staff. The senior course is composed of more than 70 members representing 30 countries including NATO countries, and ones from the Partnership for Peace, the Mediterranean Dialogue and the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative program.
