Invitation

1 October 2024

Major General Andrus Merilo Commander Estonian Defence Forces Estonia Dear General Merilo,

Invitation to the IISS Manama Dialogue: 20th Regional Security Summit 6-8 December 2024

I am honoured to invite you to attend the IISS Manama Dialogue, which will be held in the Kingdom of Bahrain from the evening of Friday 6 December to the afternoon of Sunday 8 December. Attending as a member of the Estonian Government delegation, your presence would contribute immensely to the success of this year’s IISS Manama Dialogue. An outline agenda is attached for your reference.

Held annually since 2004 in the Kingdom of Bahrain, the IISS Manama Dialogue is a central element of the Middle East’s security architecture, promoting open discussion of the most pressing regional security and defence issues and the expression of policy responses. The IISS will assemble national leaders, ministers and policy makers from the Middle East, North America, Europe, Africa, and Asia. By convening high-level delegations, the Dialogue offers an important opportunity for bilateral and multilateral meetings.

The theme of this year’s IISS Manama Dialogue is ‘Middle East leadership in shaping regional prosperity and security’. The war that followed the 7 October 2023 Hamas-led attacks on Israel has put the Middle East on edge. The uptick in fighting in Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen and the Red Sea has undone much of the progress achieved in recent years to deescalate conflict. The cost in human life, physical infrastructure, economic opportunity and strategic convergence is significant. The region is on tenterhooks as Israel determines which path to pursue. While awaiting US initiative and Israeli gestures, Arab states have sought to immunise themselves against the threat of further war by increasing diplomatic engagement with rivals. December 2024 provides a timely opportunity for Arab leaderships to express their goals for the region and for extra-regional governments to identify their aspirations for the Middle East.

Your presence and contribution would add significant value to the discussion of these pressing issues at the 20th anniversary IISS Manama Dialogue. I look forward to your acceptance, and to welcoming you to the region’s preeminent security summit. I would be most grateful if your staff could give an early indication of your willingness to accept and look forward to receiving a formal response.

Yours Sincerely, Dr Bastian Giegerich Director-General and Chief Executive rsvp: manama@iiss.org