There have been numerous calls made in the past for the setting up of some form of Arab alliance that would be able to give a collective voice to Arab concerns
internationally in economics, politics and defence. But until very recently they have all come to nothing.
A collective Arab defence pact was signed in 1950, but has largely remained just ink
on paper. The only time a group of Arabs states have successfully formed any type of military and security alliance was the October War in 1973.
At the Close of the October war, despite an ocean of Arab governmental rhetoric emphasising unity, many of the Arab States went their own way, pursuing a narrow
set of national interest to the detriment of regional cohesiveness. This fragmentation of Arab interests culminated in the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, which dealt a fatal blow
to any possibility of an inter-Arab military alliance in the 1990's.
One other approach to this lack of cohesiveness was attempted just after the Gulf
war in 1991, the GCC states met with two of their Arab coalition partners, Egypt and Syria, and issued the Damascus Declaration, which envisioned a long-term
partnership to provide for security for the GCC states. Although their have been regular meetings they have not so far actually done anything to implement the
declaration. Nevertheless while implementation is lacking the agreement does recognise that some form of security organisation should be put in place – an important first step.
Is an Arab NATO viable?
The answer is "Yes". Arab states have the money, manpower and the resources to form an organisation that could develop common defence initiatives. They could
draw up and implement a mutual defense pact that could can put together a regional rapid reaction force, resolve inter-state disputes, recognise and defend national
boundaries and governments of all signatories to such a pact. It would also act as a bulwark against outside aggression. What is lacking is the will to resolve local
regional disputes that cause disharmony within the region and generate so much suspicion amongst neighbouring states. This inability to trust each other has been
the root cause of all previous failures to form a cohesive body that would be strong enough to represent Arab interests at the United Nations and protect their rights within the International community.
But this may be changing - as the Arab community becomes increasing concerned about the aggressive and punitive nature of the sanctions against Iraq, Israel's
escalating oppression of the Palestinian People, the rejection of a protection force for the Palestinians and The Bush administration's continued support for both sanctions and Israel.
There are signs that there is a convergence of political will among the states of the Arab League to built a viable mutual alliance that would introduce a new dynamic
into inter-Arab relations. By moving them away from the exclusive realm of nation states, where decisions are absolute state prerogatives to a sort of collective Arab
decision making mechanism, such an alliance could eventually become the authoritative frame of reference for transcending inter-Arab differences
The evidence for this change in attitude is the recent Arab League summit in Amman, which reinvigorated the resolution, passed last October at the Cairo summit, to
convene an annual summit. The convening of regular top-level meetings is seen by many as recognition that putting together a joint response and working together to
resolve regional issues is the only way to meet the challenges facing the peoples of the Middle East. Regular meetings can act as a catalyst for the formation of an
effective unified alliance that would be able to act effectively to protect the Arab interests and maintain peace and security in the region.
Another promising indicator was the signing of a joint defence pact by the member states of the Gulf Co-operation Council last December, which will oblige all its
members to come to the aid of any signatory state that is threatened by external aggression. All GCC Member States, through their national decisions making bodies
are currently ratifying this pact so that it can be incorporated into their constitutions. This is bound to see the strengthening of the 'Peninsula Shield Rapid
Response Force' and an upgrading of early warning and defence systems. Interestingly, the GCC states have hinted that they would like to see other Arab
states join them, with the aim of widening and strengthening the Pact - although it has to be said that for any broadening of the Pact to meaningful Iraq needs to be
included. Which may prove difficult initially. Nevertheless, it is another promising step in the right direction.
There can be no durable peace in the Middle East without first building a viable
security structure that safes guards the interests of all the nations in the region. It is important for regional stability and security that the Arab countries Egypt, Syria,
Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine and the six GCC states construct a NATO like organisation to safeguard the freedom, common heritage and civilisations of all Arab
people and their governments. Such an organisation would commit its members to make joint efforts to work for, and preserve peace and security in the Arab World.
It is only through such a unified, strong and active organisation that the current challenges of the region can be met. The sooner an acceptance of the concept of
mutual co-operation for the good of all is accepted, and a defined time table for implementation drawn up by the Governments of the Arab states that takes
precedence over their narrow self-interest, the sooner the ideal of unity through security be achieved.
