Think tank set to open office in Manama

Manama: The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) has announced the establishment of a regional branch office for the Middle East in Bahrain.

"The IISS has had a successful relationship with the Kingdom of Bahrain through the development since 2004 of the IISS Manama Dialogue," IISS said in a statement sent to Gulf News.

"This annual meeting has become the key regional security summit involving prime ministers, defence ministers, foreign ministers, national security advisers, intelligence chiefs and chiefs of defence staff drawn from all countries of the Gulf region brought together with counterparts from key outside powers."

The London-based IISS, which has overseas offices in Washington and Singapore, will use the Bahrain office as the base for its research programmes and activities throughout the region and to connect IISS activities in Europe, North America and Asia with those in the Middle East.

"The IISS will build at its office in Bahrain a strong cohort of experts and administrative staff who will work closely with the entire IISS global network to provide not just first class information and analysis on Middle East and broader international strategic issues, but also strengthen links between the strategic community in the Middle East and those in other parts of the world," IISS said.

IISS activities in Bahrain will serve to widen global understanding of Middle East perspectives on international issues and also bring to the region the best available analysis of global strategic and geo-economic trends.

The Memorandum of Understanding to facilitate and support the establishment of an IISS-Middle East office in Manama was signed in London by Bahrain's foreign minister Shaikh Khalid Bin Ahmad Al Khalifa and Dr John Chipman, Director General and chief executive officer of IISS.

"The IISS is the world's leading think tank in its field and a vital facilitator of international diplomacy. The Kingdom of Bahrain is proud that the IISS chose Manama for its regional headquarters and looks forward to an exciting collaboration that will benefit the region," said Shaikh Khalid.