Middle East: Insights and discussion at Davos 2025
The Middle East remains a region of dynamic change and persistent challenges. Image: REUTERS/Yves Herman
- Leaders at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2025 presented their priorities, including the prime minister of Qatar, foreign ministers of Syria, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority, president of Israel and vice-president for strategic affairs of Iran.
- Discussions emphasized de-escalating conflicts in the Middle East, with a focus on fostering dialogue and expanding humanitarian support.
- Key updates included the collapse of the Assad regime in Syria, marking a new chapter for the country, and the Israel-Hamas ceasefire in Gaza.
The Middle East remains a region of dynamic change and persistent challenges. This is particularly true with ongoing developments in Syria, Lebanon and Gaza capturing global attention. These areas remain focal points for political tensions, humanitarian crises and shifting power dynamics that reflect broader regional trends.
While efforts towards stability and reform are underway, entrenched conflicts and deep-seated socio-political divides make progress uneven and fragile. The current moment is one of both peril and opportunity, as countries navigate internal and external pressures in a rapidly evolving landscape.
In a special address at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2025, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres highlighted the profound impact of multiplying conflicts across the globe, with a particular focus on the Middle East. Offering a glimmer of hope, he pointed to recent developments in Gaza, where a ceasefire and hostage release deal have been achieved, enabling efforts to increase desperately needed humanitarian aid.
While acknowledging these positive steps, the secretary-general underscored the broader challenges that persist. “From the Middle East to Ukraine to Sudan and beyond, we still face an uphill battle,” he said, reaffirming the UN’s unwavering commitment to peace. “We will never give up in calling for peace grounded in the values of the UN Charter.”
Regional leaders at the meeting emphasized the need for collaborative solutions to address these multifaceted challenges. Discussions highlighted the importance of de-escalating conflicts and fostering dialogue, particularly around humanitarian access and reconstruction efforts in Syria and Gaza. As global attention increasingly shifts towards addressing systemic crises and charting a more sustainable and prosperous future for the region, efforts must be focused and collaborative.
Speaking with World Economic Forum President and CEO Børge Brende, Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman Al Thani discussed the latest developments in the Middle East. Topics of discussion included political shifts in Lebanon, the Gaza ceasefire deal and the "new chapter" for Syria following the fall of the former regime.
“When you look at the extended region, it’s unstable, it's turbulent … our whole foreign policy stands for mediation, facilitation and keeping open communication with everyone to bring peace through mediation, not through wars,” Al Thani said.
In Syria, the sudden collapse of the Bashar al-Assad regime signalled a dramatic turning point after years of conflict. In a conversation with former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, Syria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Asaad Hassan Al Shibani outlined this new government's ambitious plans for national reconciliation and rebuilding.
"We will not look to the past. We will look to the future. And we promise to our people that this misery will not be repeated," he said, adding that the government will reject the sectarian division that has negatively impacted the country.
He also urged the removal of remaining sanctions, assuring the world Syria would no longer be a source of threats. “Thousands are returning to Syria and they need to help rebuild the country. Now we open a new page … We need Syria to be a country of peace."
In Gaza, a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has, for now, brought a reprieve from violence, allowing for critical humanitarian aid and reconstruction efforts to begin. Israeli President Isaac Herzog, addressing the ceasefire’s significance, described it as a “key to opening the door” for the release of hostages and a step towards regional stability.
"We are seeing historical change," he said, but cautioned against unwarranted optimism: “I want to be lucid and cautious…there are opportunities, but still risks. We must ensure this never happens again.”
In a separate conversation, Palestinian Authority Foreign Affairs Minister Varsen Aghabekian also expressed cautious optimism following the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. "Optimism is not a choice; it is a must,” she said, adding that she hopes the ceasefire brings something more sustainable in the future. Addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Aghabekian underscored the need for immediate relief efforts and long-term planning. “We have to ensure that the aid is reaching the people,” she said.
The region's dynamics are also shaped by external players. Iranian Vice-President for Strategic Affairs Javad Zarif expressed hope that the second Trump presidency would reconsider the 2018 withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
Zarif emphasized the severe impact of sanctions on Iran, stating: “The Iranian government is suffering, but the Iranian people and the most vulnerable groups in Iran are suffering the most.” He called for a more constructive approach from the Trump administration, hoping it would be “more serious, more focused, more realistic”.
As the Middle East navigates a complex landscape, the coming months will be critical in determining whether recent developments can pave the way for sustainable peace and prosperity or further entrench existing divisions. The interplay of regional efforts and international engagement will shape the trajectory of this pivotal year for the region.
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