The annual Middle East Peace and Security (MEPS) Forum, titled “Managed Chaos: The New Middle East?”, will be held on November 17-19, bringing together world leaders, policymakers, and experts at a pivotal moment for the region.

This year’s sixth MEPS Forum will host several high-profile figures, including Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani, Kurdish President Masoud Barzani, Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, and Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani.

Taking place a week after Iraq’s elections, the forum examines the country’s political trajectory in the midst of the Trump administration’s rejuvenated engagement with Iraq, while exploring Syria’s post-Assad future.​​

The official account of the MEPS Forum on X posted that the event “places an emphasis on regional partnerships in the midst of the unprecedented escalation of the past year.”

The conference will be “honing in on the delicate balance between conflict management, reconstruction, de-escalation, and economic partnerships – exploring how regional actors are navigating the evolving post-October 7 regional order and the pivotal role of the Kurdistan Region in shaping the peace and security contours of the Middle East.”

“By bringing together decision-makers, practitioners, and scholars, we create a platform where ideas and candid discussions are encouraged, where assumptions are challenged, and conventional wisdom on Kurdistan, Iraq, and the wider Middle East is tested,” Dr. Ranj Alaaldin, Director, Middle East Peace and Security Forum, told Kurdistan Chronicle.

“This platform is underscored by a steadfast commitment to producing actionable analysis, bridging the gap between research and decision-making, and to shed light on Kurdistan’s role as a pivotal actor in the region.”

Read More: MEPS Forum: Advancing Middle East Peace Through Dialogue

Howard Shatz, a senior economist at RAND and a professor at the Pardee RAND Graduate School, told Kurdistan Chronicle last year that the MEPS Forum is important as a convening ground for debate.

“The program is excellent, the speakers are excellent, but I think what’s most important and what makes MEPS so attractive is that it serves as a convening area. Anyone from inside and outside the region can come, creating opportunities for Americans to meet with Russians or people of Iranian origin to meet with people from throughout Iraq and elsewhere. It’s an opportunity for people throughout the Middle East to convene with each other on neutral ground.”