Despite rising nationalism, a 2025 global survey reveals that 84% of people still favor international cooperation over isolation. While trust in major world powers has dwindled, most citizens view multilateralism as a practical necessity for addressing shared threats like food insecurity, climate change, and pandemics through enlightened self-interest.
The conclusion of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq’s 22-year mandate signifies a critical moment in Middle Eastern political dynamics. It encourages a reevaluation of how regional actors might resolve ongoing conflicts through mediation and cooperation instead of confrontation, highlighting the potential for regional diplomatic leadership to offer new conflict resolution frameworks beyond conventional great power intervention.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres’s visits to Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Iraq mark a potential shift from external crisis management to regional diplomatic leadership, particularly highlighted by the formal closure of UNAMI after 22 years. This development challenges Samuel Huntington’s “clash of civilizations” framework by illustrating how culturally connected states can effectively mediate conflicts that hinder international institutions.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s involvement in the Gulf Cooperation Council summit highlights Rome’s focus on enhancing relations with the Arabian Peninsula, aiming to establish a Mediterranean-Gulf partnership framework to improve regional connectivity and economic integration among Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
