News

During the Strategic Vision Group: Russia – Islamic World Conference, held in Kazan on 15–16 May, 2026, HE Dr Mohamed Bechari, Secretary-General of The World Muslim Communities Council (TWMCC), presented a political and intellectual vision on the future of international partnerships amid ongoing geopolitical shifts, stressing that security and sovereignty have become central pillars of any serious international cooperation.

Dr Bechari emphasised that the era of symbolic partnerships measured by meetings and statements has ended, explaining that modern international relations are now built on the real ability to protect security, preserve sovereignty, and strengthen trust between nations, rather than on formal frameworks or diplomatic courtesies.

In this context, he stated that the Iranian attack on Gulf states constituted a direct aggression targeting civilians, vital infrastructure, and regional stability, adding that targeting the UAE reflects an attempt to undermine the model of a stable state and threaten global energy and trade routes.

He also warned that the Iranian threat is not limited to the military dimension, but extends to what he described as a cross-border ideological project based on exporting the revolution and exploiting religion to expand political influence, affecting the intellectual and spiritual fabric of Islamic societies.

Dr Bechari affirmed that Gulf security is an integral part of global economic and strategic security due to the region’s central role in energy systems, supply chains, and international trade, warning that any threat to its stability would have wide-ranging repercussions on the global economy.

He concluded by stressing the Islamic world’s openness to major strategic partnerships, including Eurasian partnerships, provided they are based on respect for state sovereignty, rejection of militias and transnational projects, and grounded in clarity and mutual trust in international relations.