Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung in cooperation with the German-Arab Friendship Association (DAFG) and the German Federal Academy for Security Policy (BAKS) organized the fourth German-Arab Dialogue on Security and Cooperation on 15th and 16th September 2022 in Berlin.
During the two-day event, high-ranking experts, policy makers and academics from all six GCC states as well as Germany discussed current approaches and future pathways for German-GCC relations. KAS, DAFG, and BAKS were honored to welcome H.R.H. Prince Turki Al Faisal, Chairman of the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies (KFCRIS) in Saudi Arabia and Honorary Chairman of the German-Arab Gulf Dialogue on Security and Cooperation at the dialogue in Berlin.
On the first day, panelists discussed the future of German-Gulf relations in the context of the "Zeitenwende" in Europe sparked by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Among the high-ranking panelists were, among others, H.E. Dr. Ghazi bin Faisal bin Zagr, Member of the Shura Council of the Kingdom of Saudi-Arabia; H.E. Dherar Belhoul Al Falasi, Member of the Federal National Council and Director General of Watani Al Emarat Foundation from the United Arab Emirates; H.E. Alexander Radwan, Member of the German Bundestag (CSU) in the foreign affairs committee; Dr. August Hanning, State Secretary (ret.) and former President of the Federal German Intelligence Service (BND) as well as Prof. Mohammed A. Alhayaza, President of the Alfaisal University.
The dialogue also featured expert workshops on foreign and security policy, cultural diplomacy, energy cooperation as well as potentials for economic partnership. The participants in particular stressed the importance of continuous dialogue between Germany, Europe and the GCC states.
In the framework of the dialogue, KAS was honored to invite the guests from the Arab Gulf states to a networking reception with German representatives from political, government and academic institutions as well as the private sector at Schloss Charlottenburg in Berlin.