KUWAIT: Arab League Secretary-General Nabil Ismail Fahmy affirmed that the security of Kuwait and other Gulf states is an integral part of Arab national security, pledging continued political and diplomatic efforts to protect the sovereignty and interests of member states. Speaking at a press conference on Monday during his official visit to Kuwait, Fahmy said repeated attacks on Gulf countries, including Kuwait, particularly those attributed to Iran, underscored the growing security and political challenges facing the region.
He stressed that the Arab League would not remain silent over violations of international law affecting the sovereignty of Arab states, adding that the organization was ready to provide political support and strengthen cooperation to safeguard Kuwait’s interests and promote regional stability. Fahmy said his visit reflected his appreciation for Kuwait’s longstanding Arab role, recalling the country’s experience before and after liberation in 1991. He noted that Kuwait’s Arab identity had remained a constant feature of its foreign policy despite changing regional circumstances. Describing his meetings with senior Kuwaiti officials as substantive and frank, Fahmy said the discussions covered strategic issues, current regional challenges and the future of joint Arab action. He added that he would return to Cairo carrying Kuwait’s views and messages on the next phase of Arab cooperation.
Arab security framework
Addressing questions about guarantees for protecting member states, Fahmy said the Arab League and its members formed an integrated system in which governments guide joint action, while the General Secretariat provides initiatives, support and political coordination. He acknowledged that existing guarantees were not directly military or security-related, but relied primarily on diplomatic engagement, unified Arab positions and opposition to violations of international law. “I am concerned about the Arab situation and am not comfortable with it,” Fahmy said, stressing that the multiple crises facing Arab countries required a serious reassessment of joint-action mechanisms. He described respect for international law and reliance on the rule of law rather than the law of force as strategic necessities for protecting Arab sovereignty and collective security.
On proposals for an Arab defense alliance similar to NATO, Fahmy said joint Arab defense agreements already existed but needed to be developed and activated to address current challenges. He advocated a comprehensive Arab deterrence framework extending beyond military capabilities to include political deterrence, coordinated diplomacy and economic cooperation. He said he would present proposals for consultation with member states to develop practical mechanisms that strengthen regional security and preserve independent political decision-making.
Yemen and regional tensions
Regarding Yemen and tensions involving Saudi Arabia, Fahmy condemned attacks targeting Saudi civilian sites, describing them as violations of sovereignty that warranted accountability for those responsible and those supporting them. He said Yemen’s prolonged crisis reflected the failure to establish sustainable state stability, resulting in internal divisions, conflict and foreign intervention that had harmed both the Yemeni population and neighboring countries. Fahmy said he had begun reviewing developments in the Yemeni file and consulting relevant parties, including through contacts with the Yemeni side. He stressed that restoring stability in Yemen was essential to regional security, warning that continued fragmentation would invite further intervention and deepen security and humanitarian challenges.
On the possibility of an emergency Arab summit to address regional tensions and attacks against Gulf states, he emphasized the importance of meetings among Arab leaders and foreign ministers to coordinate positions and establish common priorities. He said the effectiveness of such meetings depended not only on convening them but also on thorough preparation and follow-up to ensure implementation of decisions. Arab diplomatic contacts were continuing at various levels, he added, expressing his intention to support periodic summits that address immediate crises while also considering the region’s future.
Palestinian issue remains central
Fahmy reaffirmed that the Palestinian issue would remain the central priority of joint Arab action, citing the continued Zionist occupation, settlement expansion in the West Bank and developments in Gaza as major obstacles to a political settlement. He said decades of efforts had failed to end the occupation or achieve a just and comprehensive solution, adding that Zionist policies and US security support for Zionist entity had complicated prospects for progress. The two-state solution remained the only viable path to resolving the Palestinian issue, he said, although settlement expansion and demographic and geographical changes had made it more difficult to achieve than five or 10 years ago.
Fahmy warned that continued settlement activity threatened the possibility of establishing a geographically contiguous Palestinian state. He reaffirmed Arab countries’ commitment to the principles of the Arab Peace Initiative adopted at the 2002 Beirut Summit, particularly ending the occupation and achieving a comprehensive settlement. He stressed, however, that prioritizing Palestine should not prevent Arab countries from addressing other regional crises, noting that respect for international law and rejection of occupation and violations of sovereignty were common principles linking these challenges.
Renewing joint Arab action
Comparing Arab cooperation with the European Union’s experience, Fahmy said Europe’s progress had been supported by efforts to develop internal capabilities alongside international partnerships. Arab countries, by contrast, had at times become excessively dependent on external powers in security, political and economic affairs, affecting their capacity to strengthen independent decision-making, he said. Fahmy cited the 1973 October War and Kuwait’s liberation in 1991 as historical examples of Arab political and military solidarity. He stressed that greater self-reliance did not mean isolating the Arab world from international partners, but rather balancing cooperation with efforts to build regional capabilities and reduce vulnerability to changes in major powers’ policies.
He outlined plans for a renewed Arab agenda based on three pillars: addressing political and security crises, developing the Arab institutional system, and advancing economic and social development. The agenda would focus on resolving existing crises, modernizing Arab institutions and creating development opportunities for younger generations. Fahmy noted that about 65 percent of the Arab population was under the age of 30, placing a significant responsibility on governments and institutions to provide better prospects and economic opportunities.
He said stronger economic growth and greater self-reliance were essential to preserving independent national decision-making, warning that excessive dependence on foreign powers could narrow countries’ room for maneuver. Responding to criticism that the Arab League was limited to issuing statements of condemnation, Fahmy said the next phase should emphasize institutional work, practical initiatives and restoring confidence in joint Arab action.
He said he had advocated developing Arab national security mechanisms, strengthening collective deterrence and modernizing political, economic and development cooperation since assuming office. Fahmy said he intended to work on the detailed components of the agenda between September and next March, before consulting member states and preparing implementation programs that could extend over three to five years, depending on the issue.
He cautioned that he was not promising immediate solutions to the region’s crises, but was presenting a vision supported by objectives and practical mechanisms. The success of joint Arab action, he said, would depend on initiative, long-term planning and the availability of tools to implement agreed policies. Concluding his remarks, Fahmy described his unanimous selection as secretary-general as both an honor and a major responsibility, pledging to work with member states to improve the League’s effectiveness and restore confidence in collective Arab action, with a focus on protecting Arab interests and upholding international law. — KUNA
from kuwaittimes.com
