The 2025 Global Security Forum wrapped up today in Doha after three days of intensive discussions featuring leaders, high-ranking officials, security specialists, and scholars from across the globe.
This year's forum concentrated on the increasing impact of non-state actors, including transnational terrorist organizations, private military firms, organized crime syndicates, and cybercriminals. The conversations revolved around their influence in heightening international tensions, hindering mediation efforts, threatening cybersecurity, and compromising humanitarian initiatives.
Speakers highlighted the pressing necessity for adopting adaptable and innovative diplomatic strategies, along with new frameworks for international collaboration. They underscored that these actions are essential for preserving peace and stability in the face of a shifting global security environment.
Experts advocated for the reform of multilateral institutions, such as the United Nations, to enhance their effectiveness, given the growing involvement of non-state actors in conflict areas.
International figures, including Pekka Haavisto, the former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Finland, commended Qatar's proactive role in mediating regional and global disputes.
The forum also tackled the rising cybersecurity threats, especially the utilization of artificial intelligence by non-state actors to execute cyberattacks, fabricate misleading content, and disseminate disinformation aimed at destabilizing societies and undermining public confidence. Participants reached a consensus on the necessity of international cooperation to address these challenges, urging nations to revise their cybersecurity policies and establish new agreements to monitor and counter cyber threats.
On the humanitarian side, the forum underscored the importance of enhanced collaboration between governments and civil society. Speakers emphasized that future humanitarian initiatives must be more flexible, innovative, and grounded in local communities.
They also called for improved legal protections for aid workers, the depoliticization of humanitarian assistance, and a renewed commitment to international humanitarian law. Participants reaffirmed the vital role of humanitarian organizations in promoting humanitarian diplomacy and safeguarding the rights of vulnerable populations.
Since its inception in 2018, the Global Security Forum has emerged as a pivotal platform for global discourse on security issues, uniting a diverse array of policymakers, law enforcement officials, academics, media representatives, and leaders from the private sector.