Doha, Qatar: The eighth Global Security Forum (GSF) opens in Doha today under the patronage of H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar, bringing together senior officials and participants from over 100 countries to examine the future of international alliances and collective security.
Running until October 21 under the theme ‘The Future of Alliances,’ GSF 2026 comes at a critical moment for international security, as geopolitical tensions, regional conflicts, and shifting global partnerships place growing pressure on established alliances and international institutions. The Forum will provide an opportunity for senior decision makers to exchange perspectives, assess emerging security challenges, and explore practical approaches to strengthening international cooperation.
Organized by the Qatar International Academy for Security Studies (QIASS), the invite-only Forum will convene ministers, security and intelligence officials, senior military officials, representatives of multilateral organizations, leading academics and prominent international journalists.
The opening day’s program will feature a special conversation with H.E. Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman bin Hassan Al Thani, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defense Affairs of the State of Qatar, alongside high-level discussions underscoring the urgent need for stronger international cooperation, strategic alliances, and effective diplomatic channels to advance credible and sustainable political solutions.
The program will also feature high-level discussions.
It will bring together national security advisors from Poland, Switzerland, Austria, and Greece, as well as sessions addressing irregular migration, the future of defense industry companies, and perspectives from NATO and the Five Eyes intelligence alliance on security challenges.
Hesham Elgamiel Senior Director of Quality Assurance and Business Development at QIASS, said: “This year’s Global Security Forum holds a particular significance as established alliances face growing pressure, and international cooperation becomes increasingly important. Convening in Qatar and under the patronage of His Excellency the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs reflects the importance Qatar places on constructive dialogue. This edition offers an important opportunity to exchange perspectives, examine shared challenges, and explore how international partnerships can adapt to a changing global landscape.”
Through high-level plenary sessions, strategic dialogues, moderated discussions and closed-door roundtables, GSF 2026 will examine the pressures facing international institutions, the growing influence of emerging powers and non-state actors, and the future of multilateral cooperation and collective defense while highlighting the essential role of diplomacy, dialogue, and mediation in strengthening regional and global security and addressing the increasingly interconnected challenges facing our world.
Building on seven previous editions that have attracted thousands of participants in person and virtually, GSF 2026 will seek to advance policy discussions and generate actionable recommendations to address shared security challenges, reinforcing its role as an international platform for dialogue among senior decision makers and security experts.
