Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty warned on October 31, 2026, at the Manama Dialogue in Bahrain that Gulf security is inseparable from wider Middle East stability, as regional leaders pressed for calm because they feared renewed conflict involving the U.S., Israel, and Iran.
Manama Dialogue Warnings on Regional Instability
Regional leaders gathered in Bahrain on October 31, 2026, for the 22nd edition of the Regional Security Summit, the Manama Dialogue, sounding urgent alarms over the mounting risk of an all-out war. The summit, put together by Bahrain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs alongside the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), serves as a gathering point for ministers, political figures, and delegates from international and regional bodies to confer on major security challenges. Dr. Badr Abdelatty, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, and Expatriates, arrived in Manama for an official visit and addressed a session entitled Pillars of Regional Security
on Saturday, October 31, 2026.
Abdelatty voiced Egypt’s outright condemnation and refusal of any aggression targeting the Gulf nations, highlighting that safeguarding the Gulf is fundamentally tied to Egypt’s own national defense.
We are very confident that … the second round will be more dangerous, more destructive, and it will lead to nowhere.
Badr Abdelatty, Egyptian Foreign Minister
Abdelatty stressed that Gulf security is inseparable from the stability of the entire Middle East, noting that threats to the region carry global consequences. Saudi Arabia’s Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Waleed ElKhereiji, echoed the call for de-escalation, telling attendees that the overwhelming message from the region is a desire to bring peace back, though he conceded that no one can predict the outcome of current diplomatic efforts. ElKhereiji also described the United States as a major partner of Saudi Arabia, noting that Washington has provided the kingdom with intelligence and targeting assistance through American military advisers.
Egypt Uses Diplomatic Channels to Contain Regional Tensions
Behind the scenes, intense diplomatic maneuvering is underway. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty pointed to intense diplomatic efforts to contain tensions before they erupt, highlighting regional discussions on security and stability. Zaki pointed out what the Egyptian leadership at its highest levels announced regarding full readiness to provide all forms of support according to the needs and requests of the Kingdom, alongside constitutional measures that followed in this direction.
From this standpoint, we have maintained an ongoing communication channel with the Iranian side, always urging them on the necessity of reducing escalation and containing this crisis together. Furthermore, the matter of freedom of navigation is extremely important, and passage through the Strait of Hormuz must not be impeded.
Nader Zaki, Egyptian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, via Arab News
Zaki emphasized that the security of the Red Sea rests exclusively with the nations bordering it, asserting that regional states possess the capability to safeguard the critical waterway. During a telephone conversation late Tuesday, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi discussed ways to prevent further escalation and work toward a comprehensive resolution, including an agreement establishing a lasting ceasefire.
Syria Assesses Joining Mecca Pact After Jordanian Strikes
Assad al-Shibani, Syria’s foreign minister, stated that there are no skirmishes between the two countries. The announcement followed Jordanian strikes in Syria that raised tensions between the neighbors; Jordan stated that the strikes last week killed 20 militants from the extremist Islamic State group while acknowledging that civilians had also been killed. Syrian authorities reported seven people killed in the strikes, most of them women and children. In addition, al-Shibani noted that Damascus is currently assessing a potential move to join the Saudi-led Mecca Pact—a defense alliance that incorporates Turkey and Pakistan—emphasizing that regardless of Syria’s participation, the area urgently requires a framework dedicated to safeguarding its security.
Meanwhile, Abdelatty cautioned against repeating past diplomatic missteps, asserting that any future security frameworks must be managed from within the region rather than dictated from outside.
The management of security arrangements in the region must be in our own hands, and we must not repeat the mistakes of 2015.
Badr Abdelatty, Egyptian Foreign Minister, via Voice of Emirates
Abdelatty outlined Egypt’s vision for strengthening regional security by emphasizing the rule of law, rejecting the use of force, and respecting state sovereignty and non-interference. He stressed that security and development are mutually reinforcing and called for practical implementation mechanisms to translate these principles into action. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei also criticized Washington’s diplomatic commitments and European support during ongoing regional disputes.
'Security of the Gulf is inseparable from the security of the Middle East,' says Egyptian foreign minister Badr Abdelatty in his address at the Manama Dialogue. pic.twitter.com/8FyGxtokJ3
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