From 25–29 August 2025, the Near East South Asia (NESA) Center for Strategic Studies hosted a five-day seminar titled “Security Opportunities in the MENA Region” held in Washington, D.C. The event included 34 participants from 16 countries and provided a venue for partners to listen, learn, and brainstorm potential areas to strengthen security cooperation. Subject matter experts were invited to speak during sessions that focused on U.S. foreign policy interests and priorities, transnational threats and artificial intelligence, and security opportunities in the MENA region.

The seminar was laid out in a “building block” series of sessions and presentations. Each day consisted of a different security theme, with the first day providing a strategic overview of challenges and priorities in the MENA region. The second day set the security stage with a keynote session to address the evolution of U.S. foreign priorities and challenges in the MENA region, and potential opportunities for regional security cooperation. The third day explored the changing nature of security and examined the threats posed by violent extremist organizations, transnational threats including the captagon trade, and the importance of sea security in and around the Red Sea and Mediterranean Sea. The fourth day focused on the impact of technology on security and discussed AI as a benefit and a cyber challenge and how MENA countries can strengthen frameworks, regulations, and regional partnerships. The fifth day wrapped up the week-long seminar by emphasizing opportunities for new initiatives, new security alignments, and more creative partnerships and arrangements in the MENA region. Each afternoon consisted of an interactive tabletop exercise for participants to identify a security challenge and propose policy recommendations. There were two Arabic Groups who selected “Gaza” and “Syria”; the third English Group (mostly Europeans) worked on “Gaza … the Day After.”

^{Ambassador John Desrocher (left) and Dr. Michael Sharnoff (right) speaking to the group during the closing remarks of the 2025 Security Opportunities in the MENA Region Seminar.}

Course Director Dr. Michael Sharnoff and Deputy Course Director Professor Anne Moisan led the seminar. Participants from defense, security, and diplomatic establishments were encouraged to explore and self-identify areas of cooperation, areas of disagreement; develop proposals; and identify how best to implement recommendations. By hearing different perspectives and establishing personal relationships/networks, participants explored creative ways to advance cooperation on shared strategic interests for all parties. All discussions were held off-the-record under the Chatham House Rule of non-attribution.

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