- The purpose of this ‘Arab NATO’is to synchronise Arab armies and create political stability, while unifying the Arab world against both domestic and international threats.
- Beyond military limitations, Arab states face another challenge: dependence on foreign defence industries.
- If President Trump’s peace plan brings stability to Gaza, it would be welcomed by the Arab world, as it aligns with their long-standing demand that the people of Gaza not be expelled from their land.
- Successful implementation of an ‘Arab NATO’ could create political stability in the region, with positive effects for Arab nations.
West Asia has always been a zone of continuous war and geopolitical instability, which has had a cascading effect not just in the region but also on the world. It has been the epicentre of authoritarian regimes, wars, and disruption. As a result, global instability often originates here.
Now, the idea of an “Arab NATO”. Has been gaining attention in West Asia. This is not a new proposal; it has been discussed for a long time, with Egypt often considered the main architect of the idea. The purpose of this network is to synchronise Arab armies and create political stability, while unifying the Arab world against both domestic and international threats.
The relevance of this idea has increased recently, particularly after the recent strike near Doha, Qatar. Qatar, often presenting itself as a mediator, has called for Arab solidarity against Israel. At the same time, Qatar has been accused of harbouring and supporting terrorist groups like Hamas, even while trying to play the role of peacemaker. After the strike, Qatar openly criticised Israel, calling it a “rogue state,” which has stirred reactions across the Arab world.
Countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE, which had previously pursued normalisation with Israel under the Abraham Accords (signed in 2020), are now cautious. While these countries want regional stability and closer ties with Israel for strategic and economic reasons, they also recognise that Israel’s ambitions to dominate the region could threaten their own influence. This concern is one of the main reasons why discussions about forming an Arab military alliance have resurfaced.
To understand this better, it is important to look at the broader regional dimensions. West Asia remains a centre of global competition because of its vast oil and gas reserves. Every global power wants a stake in the region. The United States, under the pretext of fighting terrorism, has long maintained bases in the Arab world and elsewhere. Russia, on the other hand, has had a strong presence in Syria and continues to support allies like Iran. These rivalries have shaped the geopolitics of the region.
In recent years, the U.S. presence in the region has been challenged by growing Iranian and Russian influence. This has pushed the U.S., Israel, and some Arab states closer together. Turkey, under President Erdogan, represents another paradox. Publicly, President Erdogan is one of the strongest critics of Israel, often labelling Prime Minister Netanyahu as a war criminal. Yet Turkey maintains strong economic and strategic ties with Israel, revealing the complexity of regional politics.
For the Arab states, Israel’s growing aspirations are a cause for concern. Even if they cooperate with Israel, they fear it will still try to establish itself as the dominant regional power. To counter this, Arab countries believe they must demonstrate deterrence, which cannot be achieved individually but only through collective effort. This is why the idea of an Arab military alliance has been revived.
The key backers of this concept are Egypt and Saudi Arabia. However, disagreements remain. Smaller military countries like Qatar and Bahrain fear that such an alliance would make them subordinate to Saudi Arabia, given its military strength and massive arms imports from the United States. Even the UAE, despite its close ties with Riyadh, has clashed with Saudi Arabia on issues such as oil production policies under OPEC.
Another obstacle is the lack of military balance within the Arab world. Saudi Arabia has one of the largest armies, but many other Arab states rely heavily on U.S. security guarantees and have limited independent military capacity. There is also uneven development between land powers and maritime powers, which makes coordination difficult.
Beyond military limitations, Arab states face another challenge: dependence on foreign defence industries. Most of their weapons are imported, largely from the United States, rather than being produced domestically. This dependence limits their ability to form an independent military bloc.
Impact Of Trump’s Peace Plan On ‘Arab NATO’
President Trump has announced a Gaza peace plan with a 20-point detailed provision aimed at ending the war. The major highlight is the formation of a “Board of Peace” consisting of President Trump and former United Kingdom Prime Minister Tony Blair. The peace plan calls for the complete demilitarisation of Hamas and the dismantling of its offensive infrastructure in the region. It also demands the immediate release of all hostages held by Hamas. In exchange, Israel would withdraw from Gaza and hand control of the enclave to the Board of Peace. However, Israel has made it clear that withdrawal would only happen once Hamas releases the hostages and dismantles its military infrastructure.
The peace plan also emphasises America’s role in providing humanitarian aid, building infrastructure such as hospitals, food centres, electricity, and shelters in Gaza. Hamas is expected to submit its official position on the plan to the mediators in Qatar and Egypt.
One of the most notable provisions of the plan states that no resident of Gaza would be forced to leave unless they choose to do so. This is significant, as it marks a departure from earlier positions of Israel and the United States, both of which had previously rejected the idea of Gaza’s population remaining in place. The plan envisions Gaza being administered by non-political local institutions representing the people of Gaza and Palestine. Furthermore, if peace continues in the region, Gaza could eventually achieve statehood.
This new position is unprecedented, as the United States has never before supported the right of Gaza’s population to remain in the enclave. Arab countries, particularly Saudi Arabia, have linked normalisation with Israel to the establishment of a Palestinian state. They have consistently emphasised that peace in the region must include recognition of Palestinian rights. If President Trump’s peace plan brings stability to Gaza, it would be welcomed by the Arab world, as it aligns with their long-standing demand that the people of Gaza not be expelled from their land.
Successful implementation of this plan could create political stability in the region, with positive effects for Arab nations. It may also weaken the links between Hamas and regional actors like the Houthis in Yemen. For Arab states, which view Hamas, the Houthis, and Iran as common threats, a Gaza peace deal could reduce instability. In this sense, the peace plan not only addresses the conflict in Gaza but could also strengthen the broader Arab network by weakening terrorist ties and fostering cooperation in the region.
Aayush Pal is a freelance writer on contemporary geopolitical developments. The views expressed in his work are entirely his own.
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