Naval commanders conference at DIMDEX explores maritime security challenges

Doha, Qatar: As part of the ninth edition of the Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference (DIMDEX 2026), the Middle East Naval Co...

Doha, Qatar: As part of the ninth edition of the Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference (DIMDEX 2026), the Middle East Naval Commanders Conference (MENC) convened yesterday, bringing together senior naval commanders, defence officials, strategic experts and academics to address key issues shaping the future of maritime security. 

Under the patronage and in the presence of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Affairs H E Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman bin Hassan Al-Thani the conference was organised in collaboration with the Joaan Bin Jassim Academy for Defence Studies under the theme “Defence Diplomacy and Maritime Security Challenges”. It was held at the Conference Hall of the Qatar National Convention Centre and was attended by H E Lt. Gen. (Pilot) Jassim bin Mohammed Al Mannai, Chief of Staff of Qatar Armed Forces, alongside high-level delegations, ministers, ambassadors, naval commanders, maritime experts, specialists and academics from around the world. 

The Deputy Prime Minister said in his speech, “In this ninth edition of the Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference (DIMDEX), the conference is being held under the theme ‘Defence Diplomacy and Maritime Security Challenges,’ to underscore the importance of the close interconnection between defence diplomacy and maritime security, and how this nexus can be leveraged to enhance regional and international security and stability.” 

“Recent experiences have demonstrated that military power alone is insufficient to address today’s challenges, whether regional conflicts, transnational threats, or non-traditional risks such as cybersecurity, terrorism, and the protection of maritime routes and global supply chains. Here, defence diplomacy emerges as a platform for dialogue, partnership-building, and the strengthening of cooperation among all relevant stakeholders. Defence diplomacy addresses the management of differences through sustainable coordination channels and cooperative mechanisms based on mutual respect and shared interests, thereby contributing to the consolidation of stability, the reduction of escalation risks, and the enhancement of trust among defence institutions, even in times of tension”, His Excellency added. 

His Excellency pointed out that our region requires balanced defence approaches that combine military readiness with effective diplomatic engagement, adding, “Regional security cannot be achieved in isolation from dialogue, nor can it be sustained without genuine partnerships founded on the principles of sovereignty, good neighbourliness, and adherence to international law. From this perspective, today’s conference constitutes a strategic platform for realising this vision. The State of Qatar has consistently adopted this approach and has contributed to shaping a deep trajectory of cooperation, friendship, and growing relations built on trust, which has made it a destination and a venue for playing important roles in resolving disputes and conflicts through dialogue, negotiations, and diplomatic and peaceful means.”