The 2024 Global Security Forum took place in Doha, Qatar, from 20-22 May with the theme on ‘Strategic Competition: The Complexity of Interdependence’.

The third and final day of the 2024 Global Security Forum heard a rallying call for global partnerships to secure world peace from the Maldives’ Minister of Homeland Security and Technology Ali Ihsan.

Delivering high-level remarks at the Forum, Ihsan underscored the profound impact of terrorism on societies and economies, highlighting the universal threat of cybercrime, and stressing the importance of education, awareness and cybersecurity measures in safeguarding citizens and institutions.

He emphasised the significance of international partnerships in addressing global challenges, Qatar News Agency (QNA) reported.

He said, “Let us eradicate divisions, bridge differences and work together in pursuit of a shared vision of a world where peace, justice and prosperity prevail for all.”

He also expressed solidarity with innocent civilians affected by conflicts, particularly in Gaza, emphasising the Maldives’ commitment to peace and justice, its resilience in the face of threats and highlighting its robust counter-terrorism measures and international cooperation efforts.

The Minister also lauded Qatar’s dedication to promoting peace and stability worldwide.

The final day of the 2024 Forum, was organized by The Qatar International Academy for Security Studies (QIASS) and The Soufan Center.

US Ambassador Timmy Davis provided insights into resolving the Israel-Palestine conflict.

In a fireside chat, Ambassador Davis emphasised the importance of Qatar’s diplomatic engagement with Hamas and advocated for a two-state solution.

He added that he does not think we have learned the lesson that ultimately for parties to live with any resolution to their conflict, it has to be theirs.

“Often people think the United States is problematic in the world, and we have made decisions that we have had to live with and that we’ve had to fix; … it is also true that if there’s going to be a solution, the United States must be a part of it,” he added.

In his address on the current global security landscape, Ambassador Robert C. O’Brien, former US National Security Advisor, highlighted tensions in Europe, the South China Sea and the Taiwan Straits and underscored the urgent need for a comprehensive approach towards achieving peace in the Middle East.

During a fireside chat, Brigadier Mubarak Sherida Al Kaabi, Commander of the Qatar International Search and Rescue Group, emphasised the importance of international collaboration in disaster response.

The final day of the Forum features also included panels on Energy Security and Economic Interdependence in an Era of Global Competition, the Security Implications of Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies, and Threats to Human Security in the Global South.

In another development, Qatar’s Minister of Interior and Commander of the Internal Security Force (Lekhwiya) HE Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani met with Minister for Home Affairs and the Minister for Law of Singapore, K Shanmugam in Doha on the sidelines of the 2024 Global Security Forum.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed relations between the two countries and ways to develop them. The two ministers attended the signing ceremony of the action plan for bilateral security cooperation between the two countries’ Ministries of Interior.