John Adoyi
Egypt is spearheading efforts to establish a permanent joint Arab military force modelled on NATO, a move aimed at providing rapid defence capabilities to any member state under threat, according to The National newspaper in Egypt. The proposal, first introduced in 2015, is gaining traction once again in the wake of Israel’s recent strike on Doha, the Qatari capital, which targeted senior Hamas leaders and drew widespread condemnation across the Arab world.
The push comes as Arab and Islamic leaders prepare to gather in Doha on Sunday for a two-day summit expected to be dominated by conversations about the Israeli attack and the ongoing Gaza conflict. The summit will focus on forging a unified response to Israel’s escalating military actions across the region, particularly its targeting of Hamas figures believed to be sheltering in Qatar.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelEgyptian officials told The National that the envisioned force would comprise ground, naval, and air units contributed by Arab League members, with elite commandos trained in counterterrorism and peacekeeping operations. Egypt, which has the Middle East’s largest army, is seeking to host the force’s headquarters and wants the top commander’s position to rotate among the 22 Arab League nations, with an Egyptian officer serving the first term. A civilian would act as secretary-general, while a planning council would oversee logistics, training, and weapons harmonisation. The size of each country’s troop and equipment contributions would vary according to military capacity. Deployment for combat or peacekeeping missions would require a formal request from the country in need, followed by consultations and approvals from the force’s commander and chief of staff.
The idea of a unified Arab defence force was first adopted in principle at an Arab summit in 2015, but stalled over disagreements about
its command structure and headquarters location. Instead, a Saudi-led coalition was formed to intervene in Yemen’s civil war following the Houthi takeover of large parts of the country. Now, with tensions surging in the Middle East, Egypt believes the time is ripe to revive the project.
The ongoing war in Gaza, which will enter its third year next month, has seen Israel intensify military campaigns not only against Hamas but also against Hezbollah in Lebanon, Houthi forces in Yemen, and even engage in a brief 12-day conflict with Iran.
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Israeli operations have also extended into Syria, where instability persists following the collapse of the Assad regime in 2024. With the United States, Israel’s closest ally, offering what The National described as “ironclad support” to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, many Arab leaders fear Israel will continue its aggressive campaign across the region unchecked. This has fuelled calls for Arab nations to close ranks and create a credible deterrent force capable of addressing shared security threats.
“Arab nations are discussing the creation of a joint military force to deal with security threats, terrorism, or anyone who poses a threat to the Arab world’s safety and stability,” a source familiar with the talks told The National. If successful, it would mark a historic shift in regional defence cooperation, potentially reshaping the Arab League’s role in collective security and positioning Egypt at the heart of a new strategic military framework.
