International Conference at Lund University – SWEMENA 22/23 August 2024

Filippo Verre - August 22/23, 2024

* The cover image was taken from the Scholarship Region website, available at the following link: https://www.scholarshipregion.com/study-in-sweden-2023-lund-university-global-scholarship-for-international-students/.

The SWEMENA 2024 conference, held at Lund University in Sweden on 22-23 August 2024, is an internationally renowned event dedicated to the analysis of the geopolitical and strategic dynamics of the Middle East. This conference has been a relevant platform to discuss the complex relationships between natural resources, security and cooperation between nations, with a particular focus on water issues.

Filippo Verre, co-founder and president of AB AQUA, participated with two speeches at the conference.

The first speech, held on 22 August, had the following title: “Hydro-Strategic Tensions Between Türkiye and Syria (1970s-1998)”. In this presentation, Dr. Verre gave an in-depth overview of the water tensions between Turkey and Syria, focusing on the crucial period from 1970 to 1998. The strategic implications of these tensions and their impact on bilateral and regional relations were explored to understand how water resources can be at the center of geopolitical conflicts.

The second talk, held on August 23, was entitled: “Hydro-Cooperation in the Middle East: The ‘Friendship Dam’ Between Türkiye and Syria”. In contrast to the previous talk which was characterized by the analysis of the hydro-strategic tensions between Turkey and Syria, this presentation examined a positive example of water cooperation: the “Friendship Dam”. It was analyzed how this project represented a step forward in building more collaborative and peaceful relations between the two countries, highlighting the potential of water as a tool for diplomacy and international cooperation.

Participation in SWEMENA 2024 allowed us to be part of a major global forum on issues of crucial importance to the future of the Middle East. The conference brought together experts, academics and practitioners from around the world to discuss the challenges and opportunities of managing water resources in highly charged geopolitical contexts.

Below are some images from the conference.

The general program and the various panels held during the conference can be consulted at the following link: https://cdn.ungpd.com/e95803f4-11d7-4048-adf2-cd47fac406a1/Documents/swemena-program.pdf.