Establishing a comprehensive security organization for the Middle East
is a tall order, given inter- and intra-state dynamic complexities. A more
reasonable and realistic option is to build a regional cooperative security
mechanism that aims to include Iran, Israel, Turkey, and the Arab states. The
states are governed by geographic and political boundaries, where security
interests are not always aligned. Because of this divergence in views on
security and interests, actors must create a regional mechanism to avoid more
complexities and proxy wars.
اضافة اعلان
While it is
difficult to convene these states in one place to discuss their security issues
and priorities, it is possible to start small and develop basic themes of cooperative
security. States, regardless of size, influence, or power, have interests in
protecting their sovereignty and preserving their security, especially with the
growth of asymmetrical deterrence as an affordable defense and war strategy.
Cooperative
security in this context refers to informal cooperation and dialogue between
MENA region states and their international partners with a prevalent interest
in the region, including the US, the EU, China, Russia, and India. Such an
arrangement should not contradict sub-regional arrangements such as the GCC
collective defense approach or the emerging Egypt, Jordan, and Iraq
arrangement.
The challenge here
is for the region to find its own approach to building such a mechanism.
Comparative experiences suggest that Europe opted for a formally
institutionalized regime, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in
Europe (OSCE), which has come under severe pressure because of the
Russia-Ukraine war (two member-states of the OSCE). Asia established the Association
of Southeast Asian Nations as an informal mechanism for dialogue. Latin America
created a hybrid regime for security cooperation. The Middle East is the only
region without such a mechanism.
Cooperative security in this context refers to informal cooperation and dialogue between MENA region states and their international partners with a prevalent interest in the region, including the US, the EU, China, Russia, and India.
The Arab League
and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation have not effectively prevented
conflicts. The Iran-Iraq war, Iraq-Kuwait war, Saudi-Yemen war, the
Morocco-Algeria dispute over Western Sahara, Sudan civil wars, Kurds in Syria,
Iraq, and Iran, and Israeli wars with the Arab States are some examples. Obviously,
these organizations and their member states are not acting — or are not acting
alone — to find a solution. Global superpowers are present and are calling the
shots in these conflicts.
Whether we like it
or not, Russia and the US will not leave the region. They might delegate roles
and responsibilities to regional allies, but Russia fought hard to get a
foothold in the Mediterranean, and it will not abandon that position. The US
will also remain a superpower, but it does not mind the presence of other great
powers.
Realistically,
creating a security cooperation mechanism will not prevent or end all conflicts
in the region. However, it can provide a dialogue-based approach to conflict
prevention and resolution by adopting some commonly agreed principles to
preserve security and maximize cooperation. Therefore, it should be voluntary
for regional states to join. And even arch-foes Iran, Israel, and Saudi Arabia
all signaled a willingness to entertain the idea. Some more proactively than
others.
The
writer is chairman of NAMA Strategic Intelligence Solutions fares@namasis.com
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