Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – 17 April 2026: The Rabdan Security and Defence Institute (RSDI), in collaboration with the Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies (SHHBIDSS) of the Ministry of Defence, Brunei Darussalam, successfully convened a virtual closed-door roundtable discussion on 15 April 2026 titled “Security Dynamics in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region.”
The session brought together subject matter experts from both institutions and was held in the distinguished presence of His Excellency Dato Alirupendi bin Haji Perudin, Permanent Secretary for Defence of Brunei Darussalam. The roundtable provided a focused platform for strategic dialogue on evolving regional security developments and their broader international implications.
The discussion featured two substantive presentations that offered complementary regional perspectives. Dr. Kristian P. Alexander (RSDI) examined the escalation of the 2026 conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, highlighting its evolution into a wider regional and global security challenge and its potential implications for the Gulf’s interconnected economic and strategic landscape. Meanwhile, Ms. Muizzah binti Harun and Mr. Faiz Nazri (SHHBIDSS) analysed the conflict’s spillover effects on Southeast Asia, emphasizing indirect security, economic, and geopolitical impacts across interconnected regions.
Participants underscored the increasingly systemic nature of contemporary conflicts, the growing interdependence between regions, and the importance of cross-regional cooperation in anticipating emerging risks. The roundtable also highlighted the value of sustained dialogue between research and policy institutions in strengthening strategic foresight and supporting evidence-based decision-making.
The session concluded by reaffirming the importance of continued collaboration between RSDI and SHHBIDSS in addressing evolving security challenges and advancing knowledge exchange across regions.
