Egypt calls for developing security arrangements that enhance the capacity to protect Arab national security
Cairo, Sept 7 (KUNA) — Egypt called on Monday for the development of Arab security arrangements that enhance collective capacity to safeguard Arab national security by advancing security and defense integration, coordinating available Arab capabilities, and building upon the Arab Treaty of Joint Defense and relevant Arab resolutions. This was stated in a speech by Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Dr. Badr Abdelatty at the 166th Ordinary Session of the Arab League Council at the ministerial level, during which he addressed the most prominent challenges facing the Arab region, ways to strengthen joint Arab action, and responses to current regional crises and threats.
Abdelatty highlighted Egypt’s readiness to work with the Arab League and member states to prepare a comprehensive vision for these arrangements, coordination frameworks, crisis response mechanisms, and implementation and follow-up pathways, thereby translating shared political will into practical Arab capacity capable of prevention, deterrence, and collective response to threats and crises, while respecting the sovereignty of Arab states.
In this context, he reiterated Egypt’s unequivocal condemnation of Iranian attacks targeting several sister Arab countries, expressing full solidarity with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, Jordan, and Iraq, and emphasizing Egypt’s rejection of any infringement on the sovereignty, security, or territorial integrity of Arab states. He stressed the necessity of avoiding an escalation of confrontation and returning to the diplomatic track to address sources of tension, achieve de-escalation, and build upon the memorandum of understanding reached between the United States and Iran last June, leading to a final and sustainable agreement.
He stated that “rapid regional developments should not come at the expense of the humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank,” affirming that the Palestinian issue remains at the core of security and stability in the region, and that just and lasting peace requires ending the occupation, realizing the two-state solution, and establishing an independent Palestinian state on the June 4, 1967, borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Abdelatty outlined Egypt’s positions on crises in Sudan, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Libya, Yemen, and Somalia, emphasizing that his country’s stance is based on supporting the national state, preserving its sovereignty and territorial integrity, rejecting external interventions, and opposing the creation of parallel entities to legitimate institutions. He also stressed the necessity of guaranteeing freedom of navigation in international waterways and straits, particularly the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea, affirming that the security of the Red Sea is a shared and exclusive responsibility of the riparian states.
He affirmed that the Nile River represents the lifeline and a fundamental pillar of security for Egypt and Sudan, and called for countering unilateral policies and measures that infringe upon the water rights of the two downstream countries.
The 166th Ordinary Session of the Arab League Council at the ministerial level, presided over by Tunisia, has commenced, with participation from Arab foreign ministers or their representatives to discuss developments in the region. The Kuwaiti delegation participating in the 166th session is headed by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Hamad Al-Muqdad. (End) A.S.M. / S.M.A.
