Since its inception, the Middle East Naval Commanders Conference has hosted more than 50 speakers from around the world and addressed a broad range of issues affecting maritime security.
The Middle East Naval Commanders Conference (MENC) opened in Doha on Tuesday, bringing together senior naval commanders, defence officials and strategic experts to examine challenges shaping the future of maritime security.
The one-day conference is being held as part of the ninth edition of the Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference (DIMDEX 2026) at the Qatar National Convention Centre, under the theme “Defence Diplomacy and Maritime Security Challenges”.
Opening the event, Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman bin Ali Al Thani, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Affairs, highlighted the close relationship between defence diplomacy and maritime security and its importance for regional and international 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,” Sheikh Saoud said.
He added that the region requires balanced defence approaches that combine military readiness with effective diplomatic engagement. “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,” he said.
The conference was attended by Lt Gen (Pilot) Jassim bin Mohammed Al Mannai, Chief of Staff of the Qatar Armed Forces, alongside ministers, ambassadors, naval commanders, maritime experts and academics from around the world.
The first session featured Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi, Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who said maritime security now extends beyond naval power alone and encompasses diplomacy, defence, trade, food security and regional stability.
“As conflicts grow more complex and borderless, stronger regional mechanisms, multilateral institutions, and innovative solutions are essential to safeguard sea lanes, protect coastal states, and ensure the stability of the wider maritime domain,” Al-Khulaifi said.
Moderated by Adrian Finighan, the session included Rear Admiral Hughes Lyne, Commander of the French Joint Forces in the Indian Ocean, who warned that maritime threats are becoming increasingly sophisticated, including shadow fleets and illicit activities that undermine regional security.
He said such challenges must be addressed through political dialogue and sustained engagement with coastal states, alongside naval efforts.
The panel also featured Luciano Zaccara, Visiting Professor at Georgetown University in Qatar, and Commodore Dan Thomas, Component Commander of the UK Maritime Component Command in the Arabian Gulf and Deputy Commander of the Combined Maritime Forces.
The second session included Brigadier General Ramzan Hamad Al Naimi, Head of Qatar’s NATO OCC Program, and David B. Des Roches, Professor of Practice at the Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies, who discussed the limits of technology and lessons learned from recent naval failures.
Since its inception, the Middle East Naval Commanders Conference has hosted more than 50 speakers from around the world and addressed a broad range of issues affecting maritime security and their social, political and economic implications.
