Foreign Ministers and representatives from 62 countries gathered in Warsaw, Poland on February 13-14, 2019. The conference was jointly organized by the Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs and the U.S. Secretary of State. The focus was on enhancing security and stability in the Middle East.
Discussions at the event centered around threats to regional and international peace, including terrorism, weapons proliferation, and conflict escalation. Other topics included addressing humanitarian crises, countering violent extremism, protecting cyber and energy infrastructure, and disrupting illicit financial networks.
The meeting demonstrated a collective commitment to tackling instability in the region. Many nations expressed a desire to continue working together for a more prosperous future for the Middle East.
Poland and the United States announced the creation of international working groups aimed at developing solutions in several areas. These groups will meet globally to further shared interests in promoting peace and security. Details about these groups will be provided soon.
Areas of focus include counterterrorism, curbing missile development, maritime and aviation security, cybersecurity, energy security, humanitarian issues, refugees, wrongful detainees, and human rights.
The co-chairs also noted that "the Polish Institute of International Affairs intends to work with a U.S. think tank to convene a global forum of experts," called the Middle East Strategic Study Group. This forum aims to provide strategic insights supporting ongoing efforts.
The United States and Poland emphasized their common goals in promoting human rights, countering extremism, advancing non-proliferation norms, and addressing humanitarian challenges. They hope this ministerial marks the start of a "Warsaw process," fostering collaboration on key regional issues.
Finally, both countries recommended future meetings among participants to review progress made by the working groups.