Global peacemakers gather at Oslo Forum to discuss “The cost of war, the price of peace”

More than 100 senior mediators, policymakers, diplomats and peace practitioners from around the world are gathering in Norway this week, as wars grind on and the space for diplomacy comes under increasing pressure.

Co-hosted by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD), the Oslo Forum is a high-level retreat known for its off-the-record setting, where peacemakers meet to exchange insights, test ideas and quietly advance mediation efforts.

The theme of this year’s Forum, “The cost of war, the price of peace,” reflects growing concern over the human, political and economic consequences of protracted conflict. Discussions will take place against a backdrop of heightened instability in the Gulf and the wider Middle East, as well as ongoing crises in other regions, with repercussions extending far beyond conflict zones, leaving a trail of immeasurable human suffering, shattered communities and lost opportunities for future generations.

“As war becomes louder, diplomacy must become more stubborn,” said David Harland, Executive Director of the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD).

Participants at this year’s Oslo Forum include Kenyan President William Ruto, the foreign ministers of Mali and Burkina Faso, senior representatives from the Middle East, Asia, Europe, and Latin America, the United Kingdom’s National Security Adviser, and China’s Special Envoy for the Middle East. Representatives from the United Nations, regional organisations, and civil society will also attend. Together, they bring extensive experience in peacemaking and mediation.

As crises evolve quickly, this year’s Forum provides space to take stock of developments in real time and adjust approaches accordingly. Conversations are expected to address conflicts and mediation efforts in the Middle East, Sudan, Myanmar and West Africa, among other contexts.

Since its establishment in 2003, the Oslo Forum has become a trusted platform for those directly involved in peacemaking to speak frankly and compare experiences across conflicts. Held under the Chatham House Rule, it enables open discussion of sensitive issues that can help move fragile or stalled processes forward.

NOTE TO MEDIA

Attendance at the Oslo Forum is by invitation only and the Chatham House Rule applies throughout the event.

Click here to get updates on this year’s Oslo Forum

Click here to read and download the full Oslo Forum 2025 report.

Click here for Seasons 1-7 of The Mediator’s Studio podcast series with prominent peacemakers.

© Photo: Oslo Forum / Ilja C. Hendel