Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi is reviving plans for a “joint Arab force” to defend Arab states under attack, with Cairo offering to contribute 20,000 troops and lead the initiative.
Egypt is moving forward with an ambitious proposal to establish a pan-Arab military alliance modeled after NATO, aimed at protecting Arab states against external threats. The initiative, first floated nearly a decade ago, is being revived by President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi as leaders prepare for the Arab-Islamic summit in Doha on Sunday, according to Lebanon’s Al-Akhbar.
A senior Egyptian official said Cairo has “great hopes” for the plan but admitted key questions remain — including how and when the force would intervene, deployment rules, and political balancing among member states.
Key Details of the Proposal:
- Command Structure: Cairo insists on maintaining central control, with the force’s commander likely to be the Egyptian Chief of Staff or another general-ranked officer.
- Saudi Arabia or Gulf States may be given a secondary leadership role to balance regional politics.
- Troop Contribution: Egypt is offering to provide 20,000 soldiers as the backbone of the new force.
- Force Size: Membership quotas would be based on population and military capacity of Arab states.
- Armament: Cairo wants the force to be equipped with advanced weaponry to ensure rapid response capabilities.
The initiative reflects Cairo’s longstanding vision of establishing a collective Arab defense framework, though past attempts stalled over political rivalries and divergent strategic interests.
If approved, the “joint Arab force” would represent the most significant step toward Arab military integration since the collapse of the United Arab Command in the 1960s.
