More than 50 Russian and international experts and political figures from 16 countries are gathering in Moscow on February 9–10 for the 15th Middle East Conference of the Valdai Discussion Club. This year's forum, titled "Continuity and Novelty: The Middle East Amid a Collapsed World Order", aims to analyze the shifting geopolitical landscape and emerging regional trends.
The Middle East edition of the Valdai Club stands as one of its most significant annual international events. The 2026 participant list features prominent thinkers and policymakers from Algeria, Great Britain, Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, the Netherlands, the UAE, Pakistan, Palestine, Russia, Syria, Tunisia, India, China, Greece, Israel, and Turkey. As is tradition, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will attend as the guest of honor.
The two-day program comprises an opening ceremony, six thematic sessions, and a scheduled meeting between participants and the head of Russian diplomacy. In line with the event's high-level nature, the meeting with Lavrov, as well as several other sessions, will be held behind closed doors.
In conjunction with the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the club has released a new report specifically for the conference titled "Stuck in Mid-Sentence: The Middle East at the Start of the 21st Century’s Second Quarter." The report monitors the primary shifts in regional international relations. Its authors note that by early 2026, events in the Middle East are unfolding with such speed that analysts can only identify emerging rebalancing trends and cautiously suggest potential trajectories for future change.
The Perspective from Moscow
Valdai experts observe that the regionand the world at large is becoming increasingly volatile. The frameworks that once constrained state actions are vanishing, the balance of power is shifting, and uncertainty increasingly dominates foreign policy decision-making. This year, organizers are highlighting the dominance of internal factors over external influences. They have invited experts to debate socio-political models during a time of global instability and a crisis of public trust, as well as the pursuit of information sovereignty in the digital age.
"The goal of the conference is to establish the continuity and new trends within regional processes, evaluate their consequences, and propose potential development scenarios alongside a broad circle of experts and Middle Eastern representatives," the Valdai press service stated.
The discussions will center on the Iranian-Israeli, Yemeni, Palestinian, and Syrian narratives, which organizers have identified as pivotal to current Middle Eastern dynamics. Participants will also examine the principles of conflict resolution, the requirements for a sustainable balance of power, dominant ideological narratives, and the lessons learned from recent conflicts.
Given its geographic proximity, Russia maintains a deep interest in stabilizing the Middle East. Valdai analysts emphasize that Russia remains a vital element of the regional power balance and a potential mediator whose presence helps limit the escalation of multilateral conflicts. Furthermore, Moscow is prepared to share its advancements in achieving technological and informational sovereignty with regional partners.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Valdai International Discussion Club
Based on materials from TASS