Algeria summit and the time of Arab transformations

Written by: Dr. Nagy Sadeq Sharab

There is no doubt that the resumption of the periodic Arab summit in Algeria next November is an important shift in preserving the structure of Arab relations and preserving the institution of the summit, as it is the highest institution of the Arab League and entrusted with the future of joint Arab action, in light of the exceptional threats and challenges affecting the existence of the region. The Arab region is a historical target area since its inception by regional, international and internal forces. This summit is the forty-third summit since the founding of the Arab League. This issue in itself confirms that there is no alternative to the Arab summits and there is no alternative to the Arab League, and that it is the alternative to all regional and international options and approaches that seek to fill the power vacuum in the region and turn it into spheres of influence.

The Algiers summit comes after the last summit held in Tunisia in 2019, which is a long period in the history of the region that has been violated by regional and international powers, and a long period in which challenges and threats have accumulated that affect the future of many Arab countries, as we see in Iraq, Libya, Yemen and Syria, with Arab differences. The continuation of the Palestinian division and the decline of the Palestinian cause.

The summit comes in the context of the Ukrainian war, whose political and economic repercussions have reached the region, and in the context of the conflict at the top of the international system between China and Russia on the one hand, and the United States on the other, in addition to the Iranian nuclear file, and at the heart of this transformation will be determined the future of the Arab region, its role and status. .

Perhaps the biggest challenge facing the Arab Summit is restoring its credibility, prestige, and position among the Arab citizen, and confidence in the effectiveness and dynamism of joint Arab action. The resolution supporting ending the Palestinian division, adopting an initiative for Palestinian reconciliation through the summit, and restoring Syria's seat in the League Council.

One of the reasons for optimism in holding this summit is that it comes after life has revived in the Arab body, most notably the Al-Ula summit and the Gulf reconciliation, which is the basis for the success of the summit, and the recent conciliatory visits of the Emir of Qatar.

The Arab summits were held in agreement, which is the basis of their success. They also coincided with political and security threats affecting all Arab national security. For example, the Anshas summit coincided with the Israeli threat to Palestine and the entire region, the second in Lebanon and coincided with the tripartite aggression against Egypt, the third summit to confront the Jordan River water diversion projects in 1964, the Khartoum summit in 1967 in the wake of the 1967 aggression, and the Cairo summit in 1970 to confront the clash. The armed conflict between Jordan and the Palestinian resistance, the Cairo Summit 1976 to consider the civil war in Lebanon, the Baghdad Summit 1987 in the wake of the Camp David Accords and the transfer of the League headquarters to Tunisia, and the Amman Summit to confront the Iran-Iraq war. Then the Cairo Summit 1990 to confront the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, which is one of the most important summits. Because this invasion resulted in a shift in the concepts of Arab national security and the sources of threat. At each summit, the required decisions were issued, but the dilemma was implementation and commitment. After the Inshas summit, for example, the Arab countries entered the 1948 war, and the 1964 summit established the Palestine Liberation Organization.

In general, the Arab summits are held as a result of the factor of threats and challenges, which is the case that ended with Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, and also the factor of external interference by regional and international powers, as we saw in the American invasion of Iraq in 2003, and the aggression of Israel on Lebanon in 2006, and the aggression on Gaza in 2008. And as strong as the Arab action is, so much What makes it possible for the tops to succeed.

In order for the Algiers summit to succeed, it requires the level of representation, the presence of all Arab countries, decisions that rise to the level of threats, commitment to follow-up and implementation, putting an end to Arab disputes, developing a common Arab military security vision, activating the Arab Defense Council, agreeing on what external threats are, and activating the role of economic summits. Because of its strength for joint Arab action and confronting global economic problems and energy and gas wars.

It remains that the Algiers summit is a fateful summit if the Arab leaders manage to restore the role of the summit institution after three years of postponement. And after many have lost hope to hold it.

It must be said that any non-Arab force will not be able to substitute for the unified Arab force in filling any vacuum in the region. Because Arab security is one, and that requires working to reform the Arab system, pushing for more integration steps, and finally adopting a common Arab vision for peace that ends the Israeli occupation and establishes a Palestinian state.