Valdai Club

Valdai Discussion Club & The Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences

The 15th Middle East Conference

Valdai Discussion Club Conference Hall, Tsvetnoy Boulevard 16/1, Moscow, Russia

© Reuters

On February 9–10, the Valdai Discussion Club, with the support of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, convened its 15^th Middle East Conference under the theme “Continuity and Novelty: The Middle East Amid a Collapsed World Order.” The conference aimed to capture both continuity and new dynamics in regional processes, evaluate their consequences, and outline possible future scenarios together with a broad circle of specialists and representatives from across the Middle East.

Materials

The New Logic of War: Credibility, Endurance, and the Industrial Return

The decisive advantage in modern conflict no longer belongs to whoever can deliver the most spectacular first strike. It belongs to whoever can govern duration, writes Akram Kharief.

The Middle East and the Kurdish Question

We are witnessing a pivotal transitional moment in the international system—one characterised by accelerating turbulence and profound structural shifts in the global balance of power. The contours of an emerging international order are becoming increasingly discernible, marked by a redistribution of influence and a gradual yet unmistakable transition toward a more consolidated multipolar configuration, Bakhtiar Amin writes for the 115th Valdai Club Middle East conference.

Harsh Realism and the Limits of Power: Key Takeaways from the 15th Valdai Club Middle East Conference

Held on February 9–10 in partnership with the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the 15th Valdai Club Middle East Conference convened as the region once again stood at a precipice. According to IOS RAS President, Academician Vitaly Naumkin, the Middle East is on the cusp of profound change, with tremors emanating from across its landscape suggesting that “something is coming.” The conference’s theme report, “Stuck in Mid-Sentence: The Middle East at the Start of the 21st Century’s Second Quarter”, sought to map these nascent shifts. Yet, over two days of discussion, a notable departure from past forums emerged. While the Middle East is perpetually subject to dire forecasts, this year’s discourse was distinguished by a bracing, almost unsparing realism—a collective readiness to confront the full spectrum of possible futures, however grim.

Political Systems of Arab States in the Context of Global Instability

Almost all West Asian states are young and fragile. They are vulnerable because their state institutions are weak and their national identities are underdeveloped. Internal resilience is hampered by the following negative factors: low legitimacy of political regimes, localised identities, the activity of non-state actors, and the lack of sustainable economic growth. Internal vulnerabilities are exacerbated by the impact of negative external factors, such as regional conflicts, foreign intervention, hybrid wars, and global economic shocks, writes Nikolay Surkov specially for the 15th Middle East conference of the Valdai Discussion Club.

Eurasian Perspective

Middle Powers in Search of a New Status? The Case of Turkey

The long-term developmental trajectory of Turkey’s international status depends on the country’s capacity to bridge the rift between ambitions and capabilities. The most important domestic prerequisites are economic stabilisation and political consolidation, while the necessary external opportunities are created with structural shifts in the international system, writes Nubara Kulieva.

Political Islam… Where to?

Political Islam… where is it heading? This is the important question that occupies political thought in the Middle East: This comes in light of the decline in its activity on the one hand, and the rise of nationalist narratives on the other, alongside a relative resurgence of some Islamic forces over the past two years, writes Dr. Ahmad Majdalani, Member of the Executive Committee, Palestine Liberation Organisation, specially for the 15th Middle East conference of the Valdai Discussion Club.

Ahmad Majdalani

Unresolved Conflicts? Is There Hope for an End to Hostilities?

Over the past century, the Middle East has been shaped by four interrelated layers of conflict, challenges, and crisis. Internal crises arose from the struggle to create and define postcolonial states and national identities amid social, political, and economic upheaval. Regional conflicts revolve around contentious issues such as borders, state sovereignty, military and foreign policy decisions, regional alliances, rivalries, and international alliances, often fuelling persistent tensions, writes Lisa Issak specially for the 15th Middle East conference of the Valdai Discussion Club.

Stuck in Mid-Sentence: The Middle East at the Start of the 21st Century’s Second Quarter

The year 2025 was quite a strange period for the Middle East. Depending on who undertakes to describe it, it can be called the year of shuttered hopes or new aspirations, appeasement or wars, triumph and defeat. It was also a year when everything changed, just as it can be argued that nothing changed in 2025.

Vitaly Naumkin, Vasily Kuznetsov

Political Economy of Connectivity

Brave New World: What We Can Say About the Ongoing Transformation in the Middle East and Beyond

MENA countries have already begun to adjust, internalize lessons, and reduce risks. Other regions may want to look at the Middle East more closely as it offers valuable insights into policy behaviour and adaptive strategies that are likely to become increasingly relevant in coming years, Alexey Khlebnikov writes.

Alexey Khlebnikov

Programme of the 15th Middle East Conference

The conference aims to capture both continuity and new dynamics in regional processes, evaluate their consequences, and outline possible future scenarios together with a broad circle of specialists and representatives from across the Middle East.

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Photo

Photo Gallery: Digital Era: What Does Information Sovereignty Mean and How to Achieve It? Sixth Session of the 15th Middle East Conference

Photo Gallery: Political Systems Amid Global Instability and Crisis of Public Trust. Fifth Session of the 15th Middle East Conference

Photo Gallery: What Kind of Wars Should We Prepare for, and How? Fourth Session of the 15th Middle East Conference

Photo Gallery: Political Islam – What's Next? Third Session of the 15th Middle East Conference

Photo Gallery: Conflicts Without Resolution? Is There Any Chance to End the Hostilities? Second Session of the 15th Middle East Conference

Video

Digital Era: What Does Information Sovereignty Mean and How to Achieve It? Sixth Session of the 15th Middle East Conference (in English)

10.02.2026

Political Systems Amid Global Instability and Crisis of Public Trust. Fifth Session of the 15th Middle East Conference (in English)

10.02.2026

Political Systems Amid Global Instability and Crisis of Public Trust. Fifth Session of the 15th Middle East Conference (in Arabic)

10.02.2026

Digital Era: What Does Information Sovereignty Mean and How to Achieve It? Sixth Session of the 15th Middle East Conference (in Arabic)

10.02.2026

Meeting with Sergey Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation (In English)

09.02.2026

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The 15th Middle East Conference

30.01.2026

The 15th Middle East Conference

On February 9–10, the Valdai Discussion Club, with the support of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, convened its 15th Middle East Conference under the theme