The fourth edition of the Global Security Forum kicked off in Qatar yesterday.

Under the theme “Cooperation or Competition? Changing Dynamics of Global Security,” the first session of the forum delved into a series of important issues and challenges related to global security.

The three-day forum convenes several local and international official figures, UN representatives, parliament members, officials, security experts, academics and media personnel.

The first day events saw a session themed "Afghanistan: Two Decades of Coverage from the Ground", moderated by Ali Velshi. Presenter at American MSNBC News, Richard Engel, chief foreign correspondent for NBC News, spoke about his experience on the coverage of the conflict in Afghanistan.

شهدت اليوم افتتاح منتدى الأمن العالمي بالدوحة والذي تناول بالبحث والنقاش التحديات الأمنية المشتركة التي تواجه عالمنا. إننا في دولة قطر حريصون على المساهمة بصورة فاعلة في الجهود الدولية الرامية لإيجاد حلول لهذه التحديات العابرة للحدود وحماية مجتمعاتنا ودولنا من مخاطرها. pic.twitter.com/UfEsyugJhI

— خالد بن خليفة آل ثاني (@KBKAlThani) October 12, 2021

In a virtual session held under the title "Protecting the American Homeland from Diverse Security Threats", United States Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas discussed the diverse and growing security challenges facing the world and the United States today as well as the importance of global cooperation in addressing emerging threats. The session was moderated by Michael Isikoff chief investigative correspondent for Yahoo News.

A panel discussion was held focusing on the impact of the COVID19 pandemic on security and diplomacy. Speakers shared their views on the impact of the pandemic on international partnerships, which caused a reallocation of resources and capacities and the increase in local social and economic dynamics.

Moreover, security experts highlighted the development of the global security landscape. One session looked at the evolution of the international security landscape over the past year, given the impact of the global pandemic, harsh climate conditions, the increasingly diverse terrorist threats and extremist organizations.

Under the title "Are we ready to deal with the current global terrorist threats?" speakers in a virtual session discussed changes in the terrorism landscape over the past year from the emergence of a more powerful violent extremist right-wing threat across national borders, to terrorist organizations exploitation of local conditions. and difficult regionalism to escalate its behavior, as well as the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the landscape.

In another virtual session, experts and specialists discussed the issue of "Transition from Counter-Terrorism to Great Powers Competition: Challenges, Opportunities and Strategic Impact.”

This session examined the implications of managing competition between major powers and its impact on collective efforts to confront global threats and challenges, and the costs, benefits and potential outcomes and shifts in countries' approaches.

In another virtual session, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on geopolitics, national strategies and global cooperation, Matthew Pottinger, former United States Deputy National Security Advisor and a visiting fellow at the Hoover Institution, addressed the emergence of the unprecedented global epidemic and its impact on international cooperation, the competition and cooperation of countries to secure preventive equipment and vaccines, the imposition of travel restrictions and the management of preventive measures.

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Cover Image Credit and Source: QNA