Regional security top of the agenda for Arab leaders in Bahrain

Annual summit in Manama will cover Russia's invasion of Ukraine and Iran

Arab and western officials will meet in Manama, Bahrain. AFP

Top Arab and western officials will meet in Manama to discuss and present their policies over pressing regional security as the conflict in Ukraine continues to affect the region.

The summit will be opened by Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, who will deliver the keynote address. The annual event in Bahrain is hosted by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) and is a central element of Middle East security architecture.

“How regional countries will position themselves and try to navigate those turbulent times is going to be at the heart of this year’s discussion,” said Emile Hokayem, IISS’s senior fellow for Middle East security.

“We have seen detente across the board. However, we have not seen it translate into solid agreements, security arrangements, and so the region remains in turmoil,” Mr Hokayem said.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has added a new level of geopolitical and economic strife to which the Middle East is very exposed, he said.

Leaders attending the summit will include Pentagon policy chief Colin Kahl, Iraq’s Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein, Yemen’s Foreign Minister Ahmed bin Mubarak and other top regional officials.

The theme of this year’s conference is Rules and Competition in the Middle East.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has had crippling effects on the Middle East and exposed geopolitical tensions between the region and the US.

“While some states are profiting from higher oil prices, the conflict has exposed both latent and new tensions in US–Gulf relations,” said John Raine, IISS’s senior adviser for geopolitical due diligence.

"For those two reasons the Arab and Gulf region is focused on the cause and outcome of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine,” he said.

Iran will also be on the summit’s agenda as anti-government protests have continued for for more two months since the death of Maha Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish Iranian woman.

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  Iranians protest in Tehran after the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini after she was detained by the morality police in September. AP Photo

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  Protests have intensified despite a vicious government crackdown that has left as many as 200 people dead, although estimates of the toll by rights groups vary. AP Photo

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  At least eight members of the security forces have also been killed or wounded during the unrest and there are signs that violent resistance could be intensifying. AP Photo

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  A fire burns at the office of the governor of Mahabad, in the West Azerbaijan province of Iran. AFP

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  Protesters gather in the a courtyard of Chitgar complex in western Tehran. AFP

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  Iranian protesters continue to defy a deadly crackdown by security forces. AFP

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  A woman cuts her hair at the grave site of Nika Shahkarami in the city of Khorramabad, during a reported memorial held to mark 40 days since the death of the 16-year-old. AFP

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  A woman not wearing a headscarf stands on top of a vehicle as thousands make their way towards Saqez, Mahsa Amini's home town, to mark 40 days since her death in police custody. AFP

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  Iranian riot police prepare to confront protesters the capital, Tehran. AFP

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  Iranian protesters surge forward amid clashes with riot police in Tehran. AFP

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  A crowd blocks an intersection during a protest to mark 40 days since Amini's death in custody. AP Photo

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  Iranian police arrive to disperse a protest in Tehran. AP Photo

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  Protesters chant at a vigil for Amini at the Khajeh Nasir Toosi University of Technology in Tehran. Reuters

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  Students at Sharif University of Technology attend a protest. AP Photo

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  Police outside Sharif University during a student protest. AP Photo

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  Students at the university protest over the death of Amini, who was in 'morality police' custody for allegedly breaking strict rules on head coverings for women. AP Photo

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  The students' banner says: 'No to mandatory hijab'. AP Photo

Amini was detained by the morality police for allegedly not abiding by the country’s strict dress code.

“The wave of riots that we’ve seen over the past few months have been unusual in their geographic distribution,” Mr Raine said.

They are taking place throughout Iran and in all of Iran’s provinces.

“We are also seeing a strong response from the regime. It’s gone for both physical and virtual clampdown on the protesters,” he said.

Iran’s government is unsettled and has realised that it has “lost its legitimacy” or “is in danger of losing its legitimate appeal”.

“This is not a regime that has very many negotiation rooms,” he said.

Hundreds of people have been arrested and killed during the uprising.