The Global Security Forum 2025 concludes Wednesday with high-level sessions examining crisis response, the future of hybrid warfare, and the evolving role of non-state actors in shaping international institutions.

The second day of the event, held in Doha under the patronage of HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani, continued yesterday with urgent calls for innovative mediation strategies and comprehensive action to counter the growing impact of non-state actors worldwide.

Opening the day, HE the Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh al-Khulaifi underscored that mediation remains the backbone of Qatar’s foreign policy.

In a high-level fireside chat, he highlighted Qatar’s commitment to building trusted relationships across Latin America, Africa, and Europe, conveying that today’s borderless conflicts require early engagement, collective solutions, and an enduring sense of hope to sustain pathways to peace.

Building on the theme of diplomacy and resilience, South African National Defence Force chief General Rudzani Maphwanya emphasised the indispensable role of dialogue in today’s security landscape.

“Dialogue is not a sign of weakness,” he stated. “It is a testament to our collective wisdom and strength, both as global leaders and as nations striving for peace, security, and sustainable development.”

Maphwanya praised Qatar’s leadership, noting that “Qatar has been central to matters of conflict resolution, mediation, and peacebuilding within the Middle East region and beyond”.

The Forum is organised by the Qatar International Academy for Security Studies (QIASS) and The Soufan Centre under the 2025 theme The Impact of Non-State Actors on Global Security.

Turning to operational challenges, a key panel discussion sponsored by the Arizona State University and New America on Combatting Non-State Actors and Proxy Groups: Lessons Learned explored the blurred boundaries between state and non-state forces.

Participants highlighted the urgent need for adaptive security frameworks capable of confronting new hybrid threats.

UK lawmaker Mark Pritchard emphasised the need for unified approaches.

Further spotlighting Qatar’s leadership, Interpol Executive Committee Member Colonel Ali al-Ali reflected on the nation’s enduring pledge to international law enforcement co-operation.

“Qatar is a committed leader in global security, proudly driving key law enforcement initiatives and celebrating 50 years of Interpol membership with new leadership on the Interpol Executive Committee,” he noted.

Former African Union Commission chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat, who was also Chad foreign affairs minister, praised Qatar’s longstanding dedication to peacebuilding efforts in Africa.

“I want to thank Qatar for its involvement in conflict resolution in the Sahel and Africa,” he said.

“I witnessed its commitment firsthand here in Doha 15 or 16 years ago,” Mahamat said, reflecting on Qatar’s sustained diplomatic engagement.

The security dynamics across Africa remained in sharp focus during the ‘Unraveling the Sahel’ panel, where experts from Burkina Faso, Ghana, Nigeria, and the United Nations analysed the intersecting forces of climate change, transnational insurgency, state fragility, and economic marginalisation shaping instability across the region.

The afternoon sessions shifted toward bold conversations tackling identity, resistance, and international security frameworks.

In a rare dialogue, Dr Ilan Pappé and Diana Buttu engaged in an honest confrontation of the divides between Israeli and Palestinian citizens, exploring painful histories and the search for coexistence.

Simultaneously, a major panel discussion assessed the evolving scope of the “Axis of Resistance”, examining how its factions have adapted ideologically and strategically in the wake of leadership losses and operational challenges.

A UN CTED-sponsored session gathered researchers to evaluate the legal and policy complexities of addressing violent non-state actors, highlighting the growing challenges to international counterterrorism frameworks.

Day two concluded with a series of specialised side events that showcased the Forum’s commitment to innovation and collaboration: a high-level mediation dialogue, an artificial intelligence (AI)-driven cybersecurity exercise hosted by QIASS, and the UN CTED (United Nations Counterterrorism Committee Executive Directorate) Global Research Network reception – all reinforcing the Forum’s emphasis on resilience and the importance of co-ordinated action.