- Category
- Latest news
Arab States Discuss Reviving NATO-Style Military Force After Israel’s Qatar Strike
- Authors
![Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko]( "Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko")
Arab nations are revisiting an Egyptian proposal to establish a joint military force under the Arab League, multiple sources told The National on September 14. The move comes in the wake of Israel’s strike on Doha targeting senior Hamas figures, an attack that drew sharp condemnation from Arab states and Western governments alike.
The concept of a NATO-style Arab force was first introduced by Egypt at a 2015 summit in Sharm El Sheikh. While it was adopted in principle, it failed to advance due to disagreements over command structures and headquarters. At the time, the initiative was designed to counter the Iran-backed Houthi takeover in Yemen. Instead, a Saudi-led coalition was created to support the country’s internationally recognized government.
Cairo is now pushing to host the headquarters, arguing that Egypt—home to the region’s largest army—should provide the first commander. Under the proposal, leadership of the force would rotate among the 22 Arab League members, with a civilian serving as secretary-general, The National reported.
According to sources, the envisioned force would include naval, air, and ground units, supported by elite commandos trained in counterterrorism. It would also be tasked with peacekeeping missions across the Arab world. A chief of staff, drawn from one of the participating nations, and a planning council for training, logistics, and weapons integration would support the commander.
Contributions from member states would be proportional to their military capacity. Any combat or peacekeeping operations would require both a formal request from the host nation and approval by the force’s leadership following consultations with all members.
According to The National, the Arab League, founded in 1945 and headquartered in Cairo, already has a joint defense pact, and Arab militaries have held regular exercises in recent years. Combat units from several states previously fought alongside Jordanian, Syrian, and Egyptian troops in wars against Israel.
Yet repeated attempts to institutionalize a permanent, NATO-style Arab force have faltered over sovereignty concerns and rival interests.
The proposal has reportedly been discussed in recent days between Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi and other Arab leaders. It is expected to feature on the sidelines of the Arab-Islamic summit in Doha, which opens Sunday, as states seek a unified response to Israel’s strike on Qatar.
One source explained the rationale more clearly, saying the force would be created “deal with security threats and terrorism or anyone who poses a threat to the Arab world's safety and stability.”
Earlier, it was reported that Banks in the United Arab Emirates tightened oversight of transactions linked to Russian companies, leading to growing delays and, in some cases, outright refusals of cross-border payments.
