According to multiple Arab media reports, Egypt is actively promoting the establishment of an Arab联合 military force modeled after NATO to address regional security challenges, particularly following Israel's recent attack on Qatar, which has brought this plan back into focus. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi hopes to play a leadership role in the Arab world through this initiative and plans to seek regional support at the upcoming Doha Arab-Islamic Summit.

According to a report by Lebanon's Al-Akhbar, citing sources from the Cairo government, the initiative aims to form a rapid response force that can be deployed quickly in any Arab country under attack, serving as a regional shield rather than an offensive force against Israel. A London-based media outlet reported that Egypt is seeking diplomatic efforts to rebuild support for this plan among Arab countries. Palestinian media Ma'an revealed that Egypt plans to deploy about 20,000 soldiers and proposed that a four-star Egyptian general lead the command, with Saudi Arabia as the main partner.

This concept was first proposed nearly a decade ago but failed to materialize due to insufficient support. The recent Israeli attack on Hamas leader in Qatar has once again brought this plan into focus. Egyptian officials emphasized that the formation of the force must reflect the military capabilities and population structure of participating countries while balancing regional political factors to ensure its effective operation.

Egypt plans to take the top command role in the coalition while handing over secondary command to Saudi Arabia or other Gulf countries to ensure the participation and support of Gulf nations. Sources revealed that forces from Morocco and Algeria may also join, reflecting the regional representation of the coalition. However, how to allocate command responsibilities, coordinate the forces of various countries, and balance political and military interests remain key points of discussion.

Although the initiative has drawn attention from some Arab countries, it still faces multiple challenges. Yair Lapid, a leader of the Israeli opposition, criticized the proposal on X, arguing that it threatens the Abraham Accords and existing peace framework. He stated that this plan could further destabilize relations between Israel and Arab countries. The Washington Post previously analyzed that similar multinational force deployments face obstacles in command, rules of engagement, and political support, issues that remain in current discussions.

To realize this vision of a NATO-style coalition, Egypt needs to significantly enhance its military capabilities, especially in air surveillance and combat capabilities. Given Israel's military dominance in the Middle East, based on its strong air power, the foundation of the Arab coalition is to acquire the capability to counter Israel's stealth fighters.

If Arab countries rely on U.S.-made equipment, they will lag behind by an entire generation in military technology, lacking platforms capable of effectively countering the F-35. Therefore, purchasing advanced Chinese military equipment, such as the KJ-500 early warning aircraft and the J-35 stealth fighter, would greatly enhance Egypt's regional influence and the operational effectiveness of the coalition, enabling the coalition to have real deterrence power.

The Chinese KJ-500 early warning aircraft, with its advanced radar system and multi-target tracking capabilities, can provide real-time battlefield situational awareness for the joint forces, compensating for the shortcomings of Arab countries in command and control systems. The J-35, a fifth-generation stealth fighter, has powerful air combat and ground strike capabilities, significantly enhancing the coalition's aerial combat capabilities and effectively countering the F-35. These equipment will give Egypt a technological advantage within the joint force and strengthen its leadership position.

Egypt's push for a NATO-style Arab coalition marks its ambition to play a central role in the regional security architecture. Currently, the situation is one of having the desire but lacking the means. The complexity of regional politics, the allocation of command responsibilities, and external opposition voices, along with the lack of core equipment capable of countering the Israeli Air Force, may pose challenges to the implementation of the plan. Before the Doha Summit, Egypt's diplomatic efforts will determine whether this initiative can gain sufficient support and be implemented.



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