High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, UN Special Envoy to Combat Islamophobia Miguel Angel Moratinos warned Tuesday that the Middle East is going through its most dangerous phase in decades amid escalating wars and divisions.
In an interview with Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) in Madrid, Moratinos described the current situation as one of “disintegration, deep division, and widespread human suffering,” with no clear horizon for peace.
He stated that he had never witnessed such a critical and dangerous situation in the region during his decades of work. He underscored that reliance on military force has proven to be a failure and called for replacing the “law of force” with the “force of law,” based on dialogue, negotiation, and respect for international law.
Moratinos commended Kuwait as a vital model in defending national sovereignty and the rule of law, citing its liberation in 1991 through international legitimacy as proof of the importance of adhering to international law.
He urged Kuwait to continue defending its sovereignty, trust in itself, and strengthen its regional alliances – especially with Arab countries – emphasizing that true strength comes from within and from regional solidarity.
Regarding the Gulf region, he said it has a promising future if its people take the lead in shaping its policies, while distinguishing between genuine partners and those with narrow interests.
He warned that continued reliance on foreign military bases and force will not bring stability. Moratinos described the current approach to security as a “security trap” that leads to opposite results and called for breaking this cycle, asserting that “peace is the only real path to security.”
The current crisis should prompt deeper thinking beyond just ceasefires, he added, warning that imposing external agendas will only lead to more instability.
He described the current confrontation as likely to be long, saying it will only end when the people of the region decide they want to live in peace and freedom.
On the Palestinian issue, the former Spanish Foreign Minister (2004-2010) reiterated that the two-state solution remains the essential and necessary option for peace. Spain’s recognition of the State of Palestine was a carefully considered and urgent step that other European countries should follow, he pointed out.
He recalled the 1999 Berlin European Council statement (issued when he was the European Union’s Special Representative for the Middle East Peace Process), which supported the recognition of a Palestinian state “at the appropriate time,” and regretted that the delay has contributed to the worsening situation, especially after October 7, 2023.
Moratinos outlined three possible future scenarios for the Middle East. The first scenario is the establishment of a single state under Israeli occupation dominance, which would lead to the destruction of Palestinian national aspirations and risk widespread regional instability.
The second scenario is the implementation of the two-state solution, which he considers the only realistic and necessary path to achieve lasting stability and peace.
Lastly, the third scenario involves building a new multilateral regional system based on collective security, where all people of the region can live in peace and dignity after centuries of conflict.
Moratinos underlined that external interventions prevent the people of the region from determining their own future, and that any new system must emerge from within the region, not be imposed from outside.
On Lebanon, he expressed hope for an agreement that respects its sovereignty and territorial integrity, called for an Israeli occupation withdrawal, and stressed that a ceasefire is not optional but essential, affirming that Lebanon deserves full sovereignty.
He concluded by emphasizing the importance of the UN Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) as a platform for peace and understanding among people, based on the principle that no civilization is superior to another.
Moratinos announced his initiative to launch a global citizens’ movement for peace and said he has recently visited several war-affected countries to build support for ending conflicts.
He expressed his vision that the 21st century should be the last century to witness wars. In 2019, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres appointed Moratinos as High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations, succeeding Qatar’s Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser.
In May 2025, Guterres appointed him as the UN Special Envoy to Combat Islamophobia. Prior to these roles, Moratinos held several senior positions in Spain and Europe, most notably as the EU’s Special Representative for the Middle East Peace Process from 1996 to 2003.
