TRENDS Research & Advisory participated in the Building Peace and Multilateral Cooperation Forum, organized by the Orbeli Center in collaboration with the Information and Public Relations Center of the Office of the Prime Minister of Armenia. The event was attended by the Prime Minister of Armenia, along with senior officials, experts, and researchers from around the world.

This participation reflects TRENDS’ commitment to strengthening its global presence and expanding cooperation with research and media institutions worldwide, supporting joint efforts to understand geopolitical transformations and address complex global challenges through dialogue and multilateral cooperation.

TRENDS was represented at the forum by Senior Researcher Mr. Abdulaziz Al-Shehhi, who participated in a session titled International Cooperation in the South Caucasus Region: Opportunities and Challenges.

In his remarks during the session, Al-Shehhi emphasized the importance of research diplomacy as a bridge for understanding and building trust among regional countries. He noted that think tanks have become key partners in supporting decision-makers through forward-looking analyses that enhance regional security and stability. He also highlighted the United Arab Emirates’ experience in adopting dialogue and cooperation as a path toward peace and development, calling for the creation of cross-border research networks to exchange data and expertise between global and regional research institutions.

On the sidelines of the forum, the TRENDS delegation held a series of academic and research meetings in Yerevan, the Armenian capital, with leading research and academic institutions to explore future cooperation and develop knowledge partnerships.

The meetings included the Armenian Institute of International and Security Affairs (AIIS), where the delegation met with Styopa Safaryan, the Institute’s Director, to discuss collaboration in security and diplomacy studies. A roundtable discussion was also held with the Center for Culture and Civilization Studies at Yerevan State University, attended by Dr. Hayk Kocharyan, Deputy Director and Senior Researcher, to explore cooperation in cultural and civilizational studies.

A discussion session was held between the TRENDS research delegation and the Research Center on Security Policy, attended by its President Areg Kochinyan, focusing on geopolitical issues and developments in the South Caucasus. Another meeting took place with the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia, attended by Professor Araks Pashayan, Head of the Department of International Relations at the Institute of Oriental Studies, to explore academic cooperation and the exchange of research expertise.

The TRENDS delegation also met with representatives from the Information and Public Relations Center of the Office of the Prime Minister of Armenia, where Mr. Mikael Yalanuzyan, Head of the Orbeli Analytical Research Center, received them. During the meeting, TRENDS presented an honorary shield to the Orbeli Center in recognition of its role in promoting dialogue and peace. Mr. Yalanuzyan also recorded a video message to mark the occasion.

Furthermore, the TRENDS delegation conducted two media interviews with the Armenian news agency Armenpress and Sputnik News, discussing the objectives of the center’s visit to Armenia, its role in promoting global research dialogue, and its efforts to foster a culture of knowledge cooperation.