Egypt’s renewed push for a joint Arab military force modelled on NATO has stalled after Qatar and the United Arab Emirates rejected the proposal. The plan, raised by Cairo at the recent arab-islamic emergency summit in Doha, failed to secure consensus among member states.
- Egypt’s proposal for a joint Arab military force modeled after NATO faced rejection from Qatar and the UAE due to internal divisions among Arab nations.
- Several Arab states have sought alternative defense partnerships, including agreements with Pakistan, amidst growing concerns about regional security dynamics.
- This force aimed to function as a defensive mechanism similar to NATO’s Article 5 principle, treating an attack on one member as an attack on all.
- The rejection underscores challenges in achieving Arab unity, with external influences like US policies and regional alliances playing key roles in shaping outcomes.
The setback highlights the deep divisions among Arab states, even as Israel’s airstrike on Hamas’ ceasefire negotiation team in Doha intensifies calls for collective security.
A Plan Revived by Crisis
The idea of a joint Arab defence force predates recent events. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi first proposed it in 2014 during the rise of ISIS and the war in Yemen, but disputes over command derailed the plan. A Saudi-led coalition discussed in 2017, with reported U.S. backing, also failed to advance.
Reports in Al-Akhbar (Lebanon), Al-Quds Al-Arabi (London), and Ma’an News Agency (Palestine) suggested that Cairo pressed ahead with renewed urgency on the proposed Arab Unified Army.
Sources indicated that Egypt offered 20,000 troops and insisted that an Egyptian four-star officer command the force, with a Gulf state given its comparatively limited military capacity serving as deputy. North African countries, including Morocco and Algeria, were also considered for inclusion.
The proposed structure mirrored NATO’s Article 5 principle, treating an attack on one member as an attack on all. Advocates framed it as a defensive shield for Arab states. However, the timing, coming just days after the Israeli strike in Doha, fuelled speculation that the plan was intended as a counterweight to Israel’s military dominance.
Also read: Egyptian president points the finger at Israel for sabotaging peace in the region
Summit Without Consensus
The Arab-Islamic Emergency Summit, held in Doha on 15 September, condemned what leaders called Israel’s “violation of Qatari sovereignty” and the humanitarian toll in Gaza. Egypt and Qatar had simultaneously sought to broker a truce between Israel and Palestinian factions, but those efforts suffered a setback following the Doha attack.
Despite heated rhetoric, the summit stopped short of endorsing coordinated action or formally approving the Arab Unified Army. Qatar and the UAE, both central players in any such coalition, reportedly turned down the proposal, reflecting their reluctance to commit to a bloc that risked heightening regional polarisation.
In parallel, several Arab states deepened defence ties with Pakistan, signing military cooperation agreements covering training and joint exercises, set against the backdrop of a pending U.S. defence pact in the region. Pakistan also signalled readiness to station nuclear weapons on Saudi soil if formally requested, underscoring the high-stakes nature of regional security planning.
Meanwhile, the United States conducted a joint military training exercise with Saudi Arabia, a move seen as reinforcing Riyadh’s position but also complicating the emerging push for an Arab-led defence framework.
Pushback From Israel
Although the initiative is celebrated by BRICS countries, it has already drawn criticism from Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid who criticised the reports of a potential Arab force.
He warned that such a bloc would be “a severe blow to peace agreements” and would “undermine frameworks such as the Abraham Accords.”
U.S. Alliances and the Risk of Polarisation
Nevertheless, Washington’s stance will be a critical factor in determining the future of the proposal. The United States has continued to back Israel even after the Doha strike, a move many Arab states view as a “breach of neutrality.” Continued American support is likely to deepen mistrust and could accelerate Arab efforts to consolidate their own defence framework.
Also read: Egypt boosts Gulf ties with $7.5 billion Qatari investment agreement
Strategic Implications
For Egypt, spearheading the force would mark an effort to reclaim its status as the Arab world’s military powerhouse, while Gulf states would provide much of the funding. But obstacles remain, including disparities in military capacity, political rivalries, and diverging foreign priorities.
Whether the Arab Unified Army becomes a “Middle Eastern NATO” or remains another shelved proposal may hinge less on Arab unity and more on Washington’s alignment with Israel.
