Global Urology in an Era of Geopolitical Division

It is difficult to comprehend how much the world has changed since the publication of the last Société Internationale d’Urologie Journal (SIUJ) issue in February. Having just navigated the usual editorial challenges of producing an issue for a medical journal, I was enjoying a sense of calm while attending the Annual Scientific Meeting of the Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand in Melbourne during the final week of February.

Midway through the conference, news broke of the outbreak of military hostilities in the Middle East. While such a development had appeared increasingly likely, many of us had still hoped it might somehow be avoided. The impact was immediate with airspace across the region being disrupted. We had numerous international delegates at the conference, and many had relied upon flight connections through the Middle East. Whilst there are worse places to be than Australia when suddenly stranded, these are times when we wish nothing more than to be home with family and friends. Accordingly, there was a scramble to make alternative travel arrangements to return home.

The ongoing conflict in the Middle East is a tragedy. It is heartbreaking to see families displaced, communities shattered, and the growing statistics on loss of property and loss of life. As medical professionals, the associated loss of access to healthcare is very much on our thought radar. It is hard not to feel a deep sense of sorrow and helplessness.

Despite the regional nature of this conflict, its impact has been global. Numerous medical conferences planned for the Middle East in 2026 have been forced to relocate or reschedule on a large scale. The Société Internationale d’Urologie (SIU) has not been immune to these disruptions. The 2026 SIU Congress, originally scheduled to be held in Abu Dhabi, UAE, has been relocated to Florence, Italy, with new dates set for 11–14 November. Unfortunately, these revised dates coincided with another major international urology conference, the World Congress of Endourology and Uro-Technology (WCET), representing an unintended and regrettable consequence of the broader instability. However, not all disruptions stem from geopolitical events. It was recently announced that the WCET in Buenos Aires would be postponed until December, following a government announcement that airport renovations would significantly affect inbound domestic and international travel.

For a brief moment, it seemed I would be forced to choose between the two meetings, but serendipitously, that dilemma has resolved itself. This experience is a reminder that, while conflicts may arise in specific regions, their repercussions are undeniably global, and even local events can have unforeseen impacts on our field.

Whilst I intend to attend both the SIU Congress in November 2026 and WCET in December 2026, despite the current disruptions, I strongly encourage as many colleagues as possible to at least make the effort to attend the SIU Congress. In my opinion, the SIU Congress is the only truly global meeting that encompasses the full breadth of urology as a specialty. At a moment when divisions around the world are increasingly apparent, the nuance of online discourse is often diminished. There has never been a more important time to prioritize face-to-face engagement as a means of strengthening collaboration and fostering connections with our international colleagues. Both professionally and personally, we are well placed to rise above prevailing geopolitical tensions in the interests of our specialty and the patients we ultimately serve.

I look forward to the opportunity to meet as many of our journal’s contributors in person as possible and, as always, I warmly welcome your direct input and engagement.