The Roya initiative, conducted by the Middle East Treaty Organization (METO), is a plan of action to create the pathways for regional cooperation and establish the necessary conditions for peace and prosperity in the Middle East. In a region marked by decades of conflict, Roya seeks to develop practical and sustainable solutions that foster genuine negotiations and promote long-term regional stability.
The Urgency of Regional Cooperation
The Initiative is rooted in the understanding that to address the multiple violent conflicts currently raging across the region, from Libya, Sudan, and Yemen to Palestine to Israel, Syria, and Iraq, solutions must be initiated, led, and supported regionally, with strong and sustained international backing.
In parallel, the region faces acute socioeconomic and environmental challenges that cross borders, such as water scarcity, economic instability, and public health risks. These issues require collective and inclusive regional approaches and cannot be fully resolved without peace and cooperation among the countries of the region.
It is in this spirit that Roya envisions the pathways toward an interconnected, safe, and prosperous Middle East. This vision is grounded in the belief that regional cooperation is not merely advantageous but essential for addressing these pressing challenges and achieving sustainable progress and stability for all.
From Vision to Possibility
Roya seeks to challenge the misconception that regional integration is unrealistic or utopian by illustrating the broad scope of potential cooperation between countries in the Middle East. By outlining realistic, shared opportunities for collaboration, Roya aims not only to build the conditions for peace from the ground up, but also to show why peace is a goal worth pursuing.
To do so, Roya offers more than short-term fixes: it lays the groundwork for long-term, practical cooperation across key domains such as security, diplomacy, economic development, and environmental sustainability. This comprehensive approach is guided by the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and the Pact for the Future, providing a global framework through which the region’s shared challenges—and shared hopes—can be translated into joint action and lasting progress.
Thematic Streams of Cooperation
Roya will operate through multiple thematic areas (referred to hereafter as “streams”) in which regional cooperation can be facilitated. These streams encompass a wide range of shared socioeconomic, political, technological, and environmental concerns. While inherently interconnected, Roya will initially prioritize the resolution of violent conflicts across the region by advancing regional conflict resolution frameworks and security arrangements. At the same time, Roya will work to identify and overcome obstacles to cooperation in key areas aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and confirmed through the UN Pact for the Future, including, but not limited to, water and food security, public health, education, economic development and innovation, the preservation of cultural heritage, and refugee crises.
A Proven Model for Dialogue
Drawing from METO’s successful record in promoting regional multilateral negotiations for a Middle East Weapons of Mass Destruction-Free Zone (WMDFZ), the Roya initiative builds on proven tools of inclusive and discreet dialogue. One such tool is off-the-record regional roundtables, which has enabled meaningful engagement among policymakers, diplomats, and academics. Roya will adapt and expand this methodology to support broader regional cooperation in key streams needed for peace and prosperity in the Middle East and beyond..
A core goal of Roya is to demonstrate the wide range of viable solutions that are currently present in the region, but also those that can emerge through regional cooperation, and to encourage key stakeholders to support these efforts with sustained political will and belief in the possibility of peace.
Through carefully facilitated engagement, the initiative aims to foster honest dialogue between actors who rarely see each other eye to eye, laying the foundation for trust, understanding, and the development of practical, regionally backed solutions to the region’s most urgent challenges.
Integrated Methodology: Roundtables, Research, Campaigns & Partnerships
Within each stream, Roya will apply its proven model of action based on regional roundtables. This process unfolds across five primary dimensions:
- Identifying priorities within the thematic streams of cooperation;
- Mapping relevant projects and stakeholders in the region and beyond;
- Convening inclusive roundtables that bring together experts, decision-makers, government representatives, and civil society actors to develop joint policy solutions;
- Producing policy frameworks, such as draft agreements or treaties, and advocacy strategies that are regionally informed and politically actionable;
- Coordinating targeted campaigns to generate broad-based support and diplomatic momentum for implementation; and
- Building strategic partnerships with civil society organizations, research institutions, regional stakeholders, and international actors to amplify cooperation, strengthen local ownership, and advance already existing solutions.
Each stream will be advanced through this integrated approach. The combination of discreet and open dialogue, rigorous research, targeted advocacy, and meaningful partnerships ensures that solutions are not only innovative and evidence-based but also grounded in regional realities and capable of gaining lasting traction.
Next Steps
The first roundtables and related workshops will focus on identifying key obstacles to regional cooperation, mapping relevant actors, and prioritizing areas where collaborative frameworks can contribute to resolving ongoing violent conflicts (for example, but not limited to, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the role of non-state actors).
METO is currently seeking the resources to launch two to three pilot dialogues under the Roya initiative. These initial efforts will help refine priority areas and demonstrate the initiative’s potential for advancing inclusive and practical regional cooperation.
We welcome those who wish to explore opportunities for collaboration, partnership, or support.