The Bahrain Center for Strategic, International and Energy Studies (Derasat) concluded the second round of the GCC-US Think Tanks Strategic Dialogue, organized in cooperation with the American Foreign Policy Council (AFPC), in coordination with the General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), sponsored by the Embassy of the Kingdom of Bahrain in Washington DC, and with the participation of senior representatives and experts from leading Gulf and US think tanks. 

The opening session featured a keynote address by H.E. Jasem Mohamed AlBudaiwi, GCC Secretary General, H.E. Dr. Shaikh Abdulla bin Rashed Al Khalifa, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the United States, Derasat CEO Mr. Abdulla Mohamed Alahmed, and Mr. Ilan Berman, AFPC Executive Vice President. 

The dialogue comprised three principal sessions. The first examined the strategic shifts arising from recent regional developments and the requirements for deepening the GCC-US security partnership in the post-war environment, while further strengthening coordination and integration among GCC member states. Discussions addressed deterrence and defence capabilities, crisis management and de-escalation, as well as the priorities of security and defence cooperation over the coming decades, against the backdrop of growing Gulf capabilities and the GCC states’ efforts to diversify their international partnerships.

The second session focused on safeguarding critical infrastructure and enhancing the resilience of energy supplies, including the development of alternative logistical routes, export pathways and strategic reserves, as well as securing maritime corridors. Participants also examined the growing role of artificial intelligence, digital twinning, and smart energy systems in strengthening the resilience of the energy sector, enhancing risk management, and improving the capacity to respond to challenges.

The third session, sponsored by the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy in the United Arab Emirates, addressed GCC-US economic integration options, technology and economic security. Discussions further explored the role of capital, sovereign wealth, trade, and energy in strengthening the position of GCC countries within the global system, as well as opportunities to advance the GCC-US partnership amid the continued implementation of economic diversification programs. Participants also considered future paths for cooperation in technology, investment, and emerging economic sectors.

The fourth session was dedicated to identifying key actionable recommendations and translating the outcomes of the discussions into practical policy insights to support decision-making in both the GCC and the United States. It also examined institutional frameworks for ensuring the sustainability of the dialogue, including regular meetings, specialized work groups, joint research and publications, and stronger linkages between the dialogue and relevant GCC-US consultations.

The Washington meetings represent the second stage of an initiative launched in June 2026. The Kingdom of Bahrain is scheduled to host the initiative’s third and expanded stage in November, bringing together officials, experts, and think tank representatives from GCC countries and the United States.

The initiative forms part of Derasat’s broader efforts to strengthen engagement and cooperation between Gulf and US think tanks, while developing platforms for dialogue and the exchange of expertise and perspectives on strategic issues of mutual interest.

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