All Saints’ Winter Lecture 2025

What Prospects for Peace in the Middle East?

Background

The Middle East is a region replete with political, ideological, economic, and religious tensions. Its natural resources fuel global geopolitical interests and competition, often through regional proxies. The region has seen almost continual conflict since the turn of the last century. The most recent conflicts, 2011 onwards, have resulted in regional humanitarian crises and mass migration that has affected Europe and the UK.

The latest geopolitical shock, stemming from Hamas’ 7 October 2023 attack on Israel, is the fall of Assad in Syria. What might happen next and with what political repercussions? Stabilising this diverse and fractious region is a relentless political process. Is achieving a lasting peace an impossible challenge?

The Speaker - Lieutenant General (Retired) Sir Thomas Beckett KCB CBE

Tom Beckett was born in Bahrain and attended the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst in 1984. During his 34 years in the Army, his operational deployments included Northern Ireland, Sierra Leone, Iraq (1991, 2003 - commanding a battalion, 2007, 2009 - commanding a brigade), and Afghanistan. His final UK Government appointment was as the Defence Senior Advisor to the Middle East and North Africa when he was also the Prime Minister’s Security Envoy to Iraq including the Kurdistan Region.

On retirement in May 2018, Tom joined the International Institute for Strategic Studies as the Executive Director of the IISS-Middle East office in Bahrain, where he co-led Middle East research and organised the annual IISS Manama Dialogue and the 2022 IISS Riyadh Defence Forum. The latter was the first time an independent-of-government think tank had organised an event of this type in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In June this year, Tom was appointed Senior Adviser at the IISS Head Office in London and Corresponding Director of the IISS–Americas office.

Booking Tickets

Tickets are £15.00 each.

Use this link https://forms.office.com/r/SYXN5Ev4He to book and pay for tickets.

Tickets can also be purchased at:

• Clatford Store and Post Office
• Greenfield Farm Shop
• Abbotts Ann Community Shop
• The Crook and Shears Pub

Funds raised will be split between the All Saints’ Fabric Fund, Countess of Brecknock Hospice and Upper Clatford Parish Council Chalk Pit Redevelopment Fund.

If you need help in booking, please call Charles (07730 304 290) or Nicki (07909 902 308) Crosthwaite Eyre.

Flyer