MED Dialogues

The leading conference on the Mediterranean

15 > 17 october 2025

Save the date

ISPI and the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation are pleased to announce the 11th edition of the MED – Mediterranean Dialogues. For the first time, the MED community will convene in Naples, Italy, on 15-17 October 2025.

Against the backdrop of complex and evolving regional dynamics, the conference will contribute to shaping a positive agenda for the Mediterranean, bringing together leaders from governments, business, civil society, media, and academia.

Mark your calendar and stay tuned for updates.

About the MED Dialogues

The leading conference on the Mediterranean, promoted by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and ISPI (Italian Institute for International Political Studies) is hosted annually in Rome. The MED Dialogues aim to rethink traditional approaches to the area, bringing in new ideas and suggestions as to draft a “positive agenda” for the region, which tackles security and socio-economic challenges through common visions.

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MED Pillars

Rome MED builds upon four pillars: Security, Prosperity, Culture, and Human Dimension. Debates on these topics are intended to complement analyses of current challenges with new ideas and suggestions to scale-up economic cooperation, overcome regional rivalries and conflicts, and ensure that adequate incentives for sustainable development are set in motion.

Security

Discussions within the “Security” pillar explore new ideas and strategies to prevent socio-political and securitarian instability, foster cooperation on matters of common interest, and promote collaborative approaches to complex geopolitical problems.

Prosperity

Within the “Prosperity” pillar, emphasis is placed on the role that economic elites, business communities, public and private sector, as well as civil society actors can play to foster prosperity and growth across the Mediterranean region, which is abundant with promising opportunities.

Human Dimension

The “Human dimension” pillar engages discussion on aspects of policies, decisions and events that have direct implications for the rights, freedoms, and well-being of individuals, highlighting the central role of human lives and dignity to international actions and policymakers’ choices.

Culture

The “Civil Society and Culture” pillar acknowledges that the Mediterranean region is a unique melting pot of cultures, traditions, customs and religion, bound together by historical ties and a common shared heritage.

Med this Week

Middle East and North Africa

Stuck in Negotiation: The US-Iran Nuclear Deadlock and the Risk of Escalation

12 Jun 2025

Med This Week

Med this Week

Middle East and North Africa

Tightening the Grip: Israel’s Shadow Over the West Bank

05 Jun 2025

Med This Week

Analysis

Middle East and North Africa

An Evolving ‘Popular Incubator’: Syria’s New Leadership and Its Balancing Act

by Silvia Carenzi 04 Jun 2025

HTS’s transformation from a Salafi-Jihadi group to a pragmatic, locally rooted actor reshaped its popular base and governance in Idlib, paving the way for Syria’s post-revolutionary transition and a more diverse leadership.

Dossier

Middle East and North Africa

After the Axis of Resistance: Reconfiguring Iran’s Deterrence

by Luigi Toninelli 04 Jun 2025

Iran’s network of allied militias and groups across the Middle East, its so-called “Axis of Resistance”, has faced significant challenges recently, including setbacks in Syria, Lebanon, and Gaza. But despite these blows, can Tehran’s influence and ties still shape the region’s future?

Commentary

Middle East and North Africa

The Persistence of Iran’s ‘Axis of Resistance’

by Barbara Slavin 28 May 2025

From rise to reassessment: How the Gaza war has weakened Iran’s Axis of Resistance but not erased Its deep regional ties.

Commentary

Middle East and North Africa

Naval Power and Deterrence: Iran’s Role in Regional and Global Maritime Competition

by Gawdat Bahgat 28 May 2025

From asymmetric warfare to regional diplomacy: Understanding Iran’s naval build-up, deterrence doctrine, and the risks of U.S. Confrontation.

Med this Week

Middle East and North Africa

Stuck in Negotiation: The US-Iran Nuclear Deadlock and the Risk of Escalation

12 Jun 2025

Med This Week

Commentary

Russia Caucasus and Central Asia

Re-(Building, Forming, Thinking) Ukraine: Challenges and Opportunities Ahead to the 2025 Ukraine Recovery Conference

by Eleonora Tafuro Ambrosetti and Giada Bilancioni 12 Jun 2025

As Ukraine prepares for the 2025 Recovery Conference in Rome, the country faces the dual challenge of rebuilding war-torn infrastructure while driving forward deep reforms aligned with EU values.

Dossier

Russia Caucasus and Central Asia

Rebuilding Ukraine: Priorities and Prospects on the Path to Ukraine Recovery Conference 2025

by Eleonora Tafuro Ambrosetti 12 Jun 2025

What will it take to rebuild Ukraine amid war’s challenges and prepare for its future?

Commentary

Infrastructure Russia Caucasus and Central Asia

Ukrainian Critical Energy Infrastructure: Transitioning to a Post-War Securitization Mindset

by Denis Cenusa 11 Jun 2025

Three years of Russian strikes have devastated Ukraine’s energy grid; post-war recovery requires a bold shift toward securitization, decentralization, and full integration with Europe’s energy system.