Clingendael Academy hosts junior diplomats from the MENA region

The diplomatic scene is continually changing, and perhaps never more so than in this 21st century. Navigating this dynamic scene requires passion, knowledge, and skills. This February, Clingendael had the opportunity to welcome eighteen junior diplomats from the MENA region to The Hague. For four weeks, the diplomats worked on themes and skills essential for strengthened diplomatic collaboration.

An innovative overarching assignment linked modules on Changing Diplomatic Practice and Modern Diplomacy, International Law & Security, Regional & International Cooperation, and Climate & Sustainable Development. In a simulated space, participants approached modern diplomacy through different lenses and were able to put newly gained insights directly into practice. Sessions on Humanitarian Diplomacy, Crisis Management, Climate Diplomacy, and strategic tools provided the participants with the latest insights in fields that are increasingly important in international relations.

Participants exchanged with knowledgeable speakers and trainers, as well as Dutch and European diplomats, the League of Arab States, and staff of the international legal institutions. Through these engagements they contemplated: How does one prepare for a posting abroad? What are indispensable emerging themes? What skills are required for the modern diplomat? In sharing their invaluable experiences the past weeks, participants brought together various perspectives demonstrating the value of networking and exchange in the context of diplomacy anno 2025.