Unavoidable?

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi is pushing his idea of forming a joint Arab force to face common challenges that threaten Arab national security, as he puts it.

He says that such a force would be defensive, since it is not the intention of Egypt or Gulf states to launch an attack against any party. 

Sisi’s proposal was made in the wake of the killing by Daesh militants of Egyptian Copts in Libya two weeks ago.

So far his proposal has been supported by Jordan, which, according to Sisi, offered to send troops as a backup for the Egyptian military following the Libya massacre.

Sisi’s trip to Saudi Arabia on Sunday and his summit meeting with King Salman presented an opportunity to discuss bilateral issues and the threat of Islamist extremism in the region, but it is believed that the proposal to set up a joint Arab force to face regional threats was also discussed.

It is not clear where Riyadh stands on this issue. Political observers believe Saudi Arabia is keen on preserving consensus within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), where opposition to such a proposal exists.

Arab League Secretary General Nabil Al Arabi is also promoting the idea as he visits GCC countries, but there is little hope that his mission will be successful.

The organisation has been unable to present workable solutions for a number of regional challenges, including the four-year-old Syrian crisis.

Lack of means to deal with problems in Syria, Iraq, Libya and Yemen crippled the Arab League and may force Cairo to seek to build alliances outside the organisation.

Saudi Arabia’s backing is crucial and its hesitation to join such a force could derail Cairo’s efforts.

Details of Sisi’s proposal are unclear. He has outlined the challenges that face Egypt and the Gulf states and reiterated his readiness to defend Gulf security.

The joint Arab force will most likely be made up of Egyptian troops, with token support from Jordan and other countries such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, but the financing will come primarily from Riyadh.

Such an entity will act as a rapid deployment force to thwart possible threats, it is believed.

The immediate challenge facing the region today, in Egypt’s and Jordan’s view, is Islamist extremism.

The two countries find themselves at the forefront of the war against Daesh militancy.

Jordan has become a major partner in the international coalition fighting Daesh in Syria and Iraq, following the brutal killing of its pilot in January.

His Majesty King Abdullah insists that the war against extremists is the responsibility of Arabs and Muslims who should form a coalition to defend Islam against outlaws who claim to speak on its behalf.

For Jordan, taking the battle to Daesh positions in Syria and Iraq is a pre-emptive move aimed at making sure that the militants do not come close to the Kingdom’s borders.

For Egypt, the challenge is more complex.

Extremists are already waging battle against the army in northern Sinai.

They pledged allegiance to Daesh, and after many months, they still pose a considerable threat to Egypt.

The chaos in Libya presented Cairo with a clear and direct challenge. Daesh militants are now in control of a number of Libyan towns and cities.

Egypt and Jordan have pushed to lift the international arms embargo on Libya, to allow the national army to be better prepared to face the militants. So far, such efforts have met resistance from the international community at the UN.

Without a beefed up military support, the national Libyan army will not be able to make headway in defeating the militants.

The chaos in Libya has become a security nightmare for Egypt.

Without Gulf backing, it will be difficult for Cairo to provide viable assistance to the legitimate government in Libya.

The idea of an Arab joint force is not new. It has been tried before with unfortunate consequences.

The Arab Deterrent Force, which was created by the Arab League in 1976 to intervene in the Lebanese civil war, devolved into a Syrian occupying power of Lebanon that became part of the problem.

The notoriety of that experience has given the notion of a joint Arab force a bad name.

In addition to that, the Arab League’s Common Defence Charter has never been activated.

Still, the threats the region is facing have put unprecedented pressure on Arab regimes.

The Arab League has failed in its mission and is unlikely to transform itself into a potent player in the near future.

One of the challenges that the Syrian crisis has presented is the creation of opposing alliances in the region involving Iran, Turkey and others. Such alliances have put some Arab countries at opposing ends.

The war against Islamist extremism is turning into an existential fight for countries like Egypt. 

Sisi’s proposal may not see the light of day at present, but in view of the rising dangers, the need for joint Arab force to defend the region may become an unavoidable necessity.

The writer is a journalist and political commentator based in Amman.