Global Security Forum 2026 kicks off in Doha as alliances face new challenges

The three-day forum runs until 21 October, bringing together international experts to discuss global security challenges amid shifting geopolitical alignments and regional conflicts.⁠

The eighth edition of the Global Security Forum 2026 kicked off in Doha on Monday, under the auspices of Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.

The forum brings international experts to discuss global security challenges and the future of international alliances.

Being held under the theme “The Future of Alliances”, the three-day forum runs until 21 October, amid shifting geopolitical alignments, regional conflicts and growing pressure on international cooperation.

The opening remarks were delivered by Qatar’s Minister of Interior and Commander of the Internal Security Force (Lekhwiya), Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani.

In a post on X, Sheikh Khalifa said he highlighted the importance of international security cooperation based on trust and shared responsibility.

“In my remarks, I emphasised the importance of international security cooperation based on trust and shared responsibility, as well as the State of Qatar’s commitment to supporting international efforts to achieve security and stability, in a manner that preserves the sovereignty of states and safeguards the interests of their peoples,” wrote Sheikh Khalifa.

Qatar’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Affairs, Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, opened the forum’s first fireside chat with CNN national security analyst Peter Bergen, addressing the regional security challenges Qatar has faced amid escalating conflicts.

Sheikh Saoud warned that disruptions to Gulf energy supplies could drive up costs worldwide in the coming days and months, saying the resulting economic “shockwave” had yet to fully materialise.⁠

The Minister of State for Defence Affairs said instability in the Gulf could disrupt trade between East and West, while also affecting the region’s overseas investments and international development assistance.⁠ 

“When we speak about the disturbance of energy supply in the GCC and Qatar, it’s not only about supplying the world with energy and downstream products, which is so important,” Sheikh Saoud said.

“Any disruption to energy supplies will affect consumers worldwide and drive up costs everywhere,” Sheikh Saoud said.

He warned that further impacts could be felt in the coming days and months, adding that “the shock wave has not reached the level that we expect it to reach”.

Sheikh Saoud also said that Qatar was developing its domestic capabilities in air defence, counter-drone measures, cybersecurity and electronic warfare.

“We are already building our capabilities locally towards these three elements I mentioned,” he said, referring to air defence, counter-drone measures, cybersecurity and electronic warfare.

He added that Qatar was also working with regional partners and international allies to strengthen its defences.

“Soon we’re going to announce a new partnership that we will do with the regional partners to establish new initiatives towards building the capability into these three elements and others,” he said.

Sheikh Saoud stressed that Al Udeid Air Base remains a Qatari military facility while hostin U.S. forces and other international allies.

The Qatari minister said the base has at times hosted representatives from more than 20 countries, with allies using the facility for military exercises, training and humanitarian missions. It has also served as a headquarters for regional operations, including the campaign against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).

He added that Qatar continues to expand and develop the facility to meet the operational needs of its air force and armed forces, while allowing international allies to use parts of the base for joint activities.

Qatar maintained communication with Iran despite an attack on a vessel leased by Doha, which occurred days after a U.S.–Iran memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed in Geneva, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Affairs Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani also said.

Sheikh Saoud described the attack as a surprise but said the issue had since been overcome and both sides had reached a common understanding of the incident.

He added that communication with Iran had continued at various levels despite bilateral differences and the war between Iran and the United States

Speaking during a panel titled “The Future of Defence Partnerships: From Alliances to Operational Capability”, Head of Qatar’s Intelligence and Security Authority Staff Brigadier General Khalid Mohammed Al-Nuaimi said that “Qatar repositioned its defence assets within around six hours to counter emerging threats, following eight months of adaptations to its military operations.”

Al-Nuaimi said Qatar’s forces, doctrine and defence capabilities had initially been designed for a different threat environment.

Responding to a question from former White House counterterrorism official Chris Costa about lessons Gulf forces had learnt in countering drones, Al-Nuaimi said the six-hour shift required rapid changes to Qatar’s operational concepts and the allocation of defence assets.

He described the response as “unprecedented and successful”.