
The Institute for Peace and Diplomacy’s recent panel, ‘The Impact of COVID-19 on Security and Stability in the Middle East’ was broadcast on CPAC’s Public Record. Supported by the Department of National Defence’s Mobilizing Insights in Defence and Security (MINDS) program, the September 17 discussion was part of IPD’s series investigating the impact of COVID-19 on international peace and security.
Watch the broadcast
In the first section of the panel, Ambassador Stefanie McCollum—Canada’s representative to the State of Qatar—delivered a keynote speech, followed by a conversation with Younes Zangiabadi, Executive Vice President of the Institute for Peace & Diplomacy. The second part of the discussion hosted speakers Dennis Horak, Canada’s Former Ambassador to Saudi Arabia; Bessma Momani, Professor of Political Science at the University of Waterloo; Luciano Zaccara, Professor of Gulf Politics at Gulf Studies Center, Qatar University; and Rothna Begum, Senior Researcher at Human Rights Watch. This discussion was moderated by Sanam Shantyaei, Senior Journalist and Host of Middle East Matters at France24. The discussion was assembled to investigate the ways in which COVID-19 has contributed to the ongoing security threats and regional destabilization; explore opportunities for how this shared public health emergency could become the impetus for cooperation among GCC countries, Iraq and Iran; and assess non-invasive junctures for Canada’s potential contribution to these matters.
Explore the series:
Sept 9 – The Future of Grand Strategy in the Post-COVID World
Sept 17 – The Impact of COVID-19 on Security and Stability in the Middle East
Sept 23 – The Impact of COVID-19 on Canada’s Foreign Policy