18/07 Gulf Diplomatic Crisis and its relevance for Europe

The recent diplomatic crisis where several Arab countries suspended relations with Qatar and imposed an economic boycott has shone the international spotlight on Qatar and on the role that its political leadership plays in supporting terrorist groups and Islamist networks. Our guest speakers will provide insight and context to the diplomatic crisis as it continues to evolve.

Ahmed Al Hamli is the President and Founder of TRENDS Research & Advisory, an independent and progressive think tank, based in Abu Dhabi – UAE. He is an expert in matters of security and human rights. He graduated with a PhD in international public law from the University of Hull, UK, and has served in the Dubai Police Force. He has acted as a consultant to different stakeholders on a wide range of security related issues.

Richard Burchill is the Director of Research and Engagement for TRENDS Research & Advisory. Previously he was a member of the Wilberforce Institute for the Study of Slavery and Emancipation and Reader in the Law School at the University of Hull. While at the University of Hull he has been the Director of the McCoubrey Centre for International Law, the Director of Postgraduate Studies for the Law School and the Director of International Partnerships for the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. He has been a speaker on issues of international law, human rights and counter-terrorism for the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, and the George C. Marshall Centre for Security Studies.

Olivier Guitta is an expert on counterterrorism and geopolitical risk. He is the Managing Director of GlobalStrat, a security and geopolitical risk consultancy firm. He regularly briefs governments in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. His clients include large multinationals, sovereign wealth funds, asset managers and large law firms. He regularly advises chief security officers from the largest companies in the world. Olivier appears very often on numerous outlets including the BBC, CNN, Sky News, NBC, CNBC, The Times, Le Monde, Forbes, ITN, ABC Radio. Born in Morocco, raised in Spain and France and educated in Cologne and Paris, Olivier spent twelve years, working as a Portfolio Manager for two financial firms in the USA before becoming a strategic and risk consultant for large multinationals and governments in Washington DC. He was Director of Research at the Henry Jackson Society until July 2014.

The European Foundation for Democracy is a policy institute that has been working with civil society, academic, government and other stakeholders on the democratic reforms, prevention of radicalisation, security and foreign policy.