In the latest statement from the Doha Summit, the joint Arab force, intended to defend any Arab country facing danger or attack, was not addressed, raising questions about the absence of Arab coordination on this matter. On March 29, 2015, it was decided to approve the idea proposed by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to establish a joint Arab force aimed at preserving and maintaining Arab national security. Approval Decision No. 628 was issued, and it was decided to prepare a written protocol consisting of 12 articles that provide a complete definition and outline a comprehensive scenario for the force’s tasks.
– Rapid military intervention to confront terrorist challenges and threats that pose a direct threat to Arab national security.
– Participation in peacekeeping and security operations in member states, whether to prevent the outbreak of armed conflicts, stabilize ceasefires and peace agreements, or assist these countries in restoring, building, and equipping their military and security capabilities.
– Participation in securing relief and humanitarian aid operations, and protecting civilians in emergencies resulting from armed conflicts, or in the event of natural disasters, and securing maritime, land, and air communication lines to combat piracy, terrorism, and conduct search and rescue operations, alongside any other tasks decided by the Defense Council.
Despite not initiating the establishment of the joint Arab force, many countries are linked by joint defense agreements. On December 31, 2000, the leaders of the GCC signed the joint defense agreement of the Gulf Cooperation Council for the Arab States in the twenty-first session of the Supreme Council held in the Kingdom of Bahrain. The agreement was the culmination of years of military cooperation and the crystallization of its frameworks, principles, and objectives, affirming the Council’s determination for collective defense against any threats, and included the establishment of a Joint Defense Council and a High Military Committee.
In this context, Colonel Hatim Saber, an expert in international counter-terrorism and information warfare, stated that the lack of activation of joint Arab defense agreements since the October War of 1973 is primarily due to the emergence of different camps, as well as the absence of trust between Arab regimes due to interventions and internecine wars. Saber added that the weak institutional infrastructure has kept the joint defense charters as a theoretical framework without implementation mechanisms or ready forces, in the absence of a unified military leadership or joint war staff like NATO. Moreover, the reliance of most Arab countries on alliances with major powers made comprehensive Arab defense commitment unrealistic.
He continued by saying that this limited alliance could encourage others to join if it achieves tangible results such as deterring threats, executing successful joint operations, and reducing dependency on foreign powers, while maintaining a defensive rather than offensive character. However, it will not succeed if it remains merely a political framework without real force and is directly linked to contentious issues like the conflict with Iran.
He believes that the success of any Arab alliance depends on strong political will, sufficient funding, and a common combat military doctrine. Meanwhile, Iraqi strategic expert Dr. Abdul Karim Al-Wazan said that joint Arab defense agreements could have formed a strong barrier against external threats and would have prevented assaults on Arab capitals. He added that activating joint Arab defense agreements means entering into war with Israel and canceling the truce sought by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States.
He noted that “the opposing position for Arabs is unified, while some Arab countries are linked by partial agreements with hostile states.” During his speech at the emergency Arab and Islamic summit in the Qatari capital, Doha, the Sudanese called for “the formation of a unified Islamic alliance to face security and economic challenges.” The Iraqi Prime Minister proposed “a comprehensive roadmap to fully cease fire in Gaza and treat any assault against any Arab or Islamic country as a threat to all states in both blocs,” pointing out that “the security of any Arab state is an integral part of our collective security.”
