DOHA — The 23rd edition of the Doha Forum concluded in Qatar’s capital on Sunday, capping two days of intense deliberations that gathered over 6,000 participants from more than 150 countries to confront the world’s most intractable crises. Hosted by Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs under the patronage of Amir His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the event centered on the theme “Justice in Action: Beyond Promises to Progress,” a clarion call to translate rhetoric into tangible reforms amid escalating geopolitical tensions, humanitarian emergencies, and technological disruptions.
As the forum drew to a close, Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of the Education Above All Foundation, delivered the closing remarks, emphasizing that “justice is a set of values that must be practiced, not merely slogans to be raised.” She urged attendees to prioritize accountability and collective governance, warning that “in a world facing overlapping crises, the call for fair, accountable, and collective governance is more urgent than ever.” The gathering, which featured over 350 speakers including heads of state, foreign ministers, and tech titans, underscored Qatar’s role as a neutral mediator in global affairs, with side meetings fostering bilateral deals on energy security and reconstruction efforts.
The forum’s program, co-developed with leading think tanks like the International Crisis Group and the Brookings Institution, spanned pillars of diplomacy, dialogue, and diversity. Sessions dissected pressing issues from conflict resolution to economic resilience, with a youth edition held December 3–4 engaging 150 emerging leaders from over 100 countries to feed recommendations into the main event. Anadolu Agency served as the global communications partner, amplifying discussions to a worldwide audience via live streams that drew millions of views.
High-profile attendees set the tone for substantive exchanges. Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa, in his first major international appearance since assuming office, addressed the “new Syria” a year post-transition, outlining progress in stabilization and economic recovery while seeking Gulf investment to rebuild infrastructure ravaged by over a decade of war. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, engaging in sideline talks with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Qatari counterparts, stressed multilateralism in countering extremism, pledging €200 million in humanitarian aid for the Horn of Africa. Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares advocated for EU-Gulf pacts on migration and green energy, while World Economic Forum President Børge Brende highlighted private-sector roles in equitable growth.
Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates brought star power to the keynotes. Clinton critiqued U.S. foreign policy pivots under President Trump, calling for “principled realism” in Middle East engagements to avoid alienating allies. Gates, in a session on global health, touted AI’s potential to accelerate vaccine development for HIV and malaria, announcing a $500 million Gates Foundation pledge for AI-driven research in sub-Saharan Africa. “AI isn’t just a tool; it’s a force multiplier for equity,” he said, but cautioned against unchecked deployment that could widen digital divides.
One of the forum’s most charged panels, “The Gaza Reckoning: Reassessing Global Responsibilities and Pathways to Peace,” co-hosted with the International Crisis Group, laid bare divisions over the ongoing crisis. UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese described Gaza’s plight as “apocalyptic,” the first genocide to “awaken global conscience” in her lifetime, linking it to injustices in Yemen, Sudan, and Congo. “Palestine reveals what happens when law serves power,” she declared, decrying Western hypocrisy and U.S. sanctions against her as “illegal violations of the UN Charter.” Participants, including Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, called for immediate reconstruction funding — estimating $90 billion needed — and enforcement of the ICJ’s rulings on occupation and settlements. Al Thani, in an interview with Tucker Carlson, revealed that Qatar’s Hamas ties originated from U.S. and Israeli requests in 2012 to facilitate ceasefires, crediting them for Trump’s 20-point Gaza plan that halted active fighting. The session ended with a consensus on Arab-led peacekeeping forces, though skeptics noted stalled UN votes as evidence of “hollowed-out” mechanisms.
“Gulf–EU Relations in the Age of Strategic Isolation” examined post-Ukraine war dynamics, with Albares and Fidan advocating diversified energy corridors to counter Russian leverage. Panelists projected €100 billion in joint green hydrogen projects by 2030, but warned of “strategic autonomy” risks fracturing transatlantic ties. In a related youth session, “Who Holds the Line: Rethinking Responsibility in Geopolitics,” emerging leaders from Europe and the Gulf proposed hybrid governance models blending EU regulations with GCC flexibility.
The AI-focused panel, “AI as a Double-Edged Sword: Strategies for Responsible Use in the Military Domain,” drew tech ethicists and defense officials to debate autonomous weapons. Brende warned of an “AI arms race” exacerbating inequalities, citing a 40 % surge in cyber incidents since 2024. Recommendations included a global moratorium on lethal AI systems, echoing UN calls, with Qatar committing $150 million to AI governance research at Carnegie Mellon University’s Doha campus.
“US-China Relations: Navigating the Risks and Opportunities of a Changing Global Order” featured Clinton dissecting Trump’s tariff escalations, which have hiked global supply chain costs by 15 %. Chinese Ambassador to Qatar echoed Beijing’s “win-win” vision, announcing infrastructure pacts worth $20 billion with African Union members present, including Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama, who highlighted Africa’s “vast unexploited agricultural land” for Sino-African agrotech ventures.
Side events amplified the forum’s impact. QatarEnergy CEO Saad Sherida Al Kaabi reaffirmed Doha’s LNG commitments amid European shortages, securing deals with Germany and Italy. Somali President Mohamud’s talks with Fidan advanced anti-Al-Shabaab cooperation, aligning with AUSSOM’s post-ATMIS mandate through December 2025. Italy’s Undersecretary Maria Tripodi pledged Gaza reconstruction support, strengthening Rome-Doha ties.
Outcomes included a “Doha Compact for Justice,” a non-binding framework for AI ethics and climate finance, endorsed by 40 nations. Executive Director Mubarak Ajlan Al-Kuwari hailed it as “bridging divides through inclusive dialogue,” while youth recommendations on equitable tech access will inform 2026 agendas. Critics, however, decried the absence of binding commitments, with Albanese labeling it “another round of promises” amid Gaza’s 90 % infrastructure devastation.
Social media buzzed with #DohaForum2025, trending globally with 2.5 million mentions, blending optimism — “Finally, action over words” — and skepticism — “Gaza talks without enforcement? Same old.” As delegates departed, Al-Kuwari reflected: “Doha Forum isn’t just a convening; it’s a catalyst for progress.” In a year of flux — from Syria’s reboot to AI’s double edge — the forum reaffirmed small states’ outsized diplomatic clout, but the true test lies in implementation. With winter winds sweeping the Gulf, the echo of “justice in action” lingers, a challenge to powerbrokers: deliver, or dissolve into irrelevance.
