The
Arab League
or
League of Arab States
was founded by
Egypt
in 1945, has 22 members and seven observer members so far:
Armenia
,
Brazil
,
Chad
,
Eritrea
,
Greece
,
Republic of India
,
Venezuela
.
[1]
[2]
[3]
[4]
The
Arab League
itself is an observer in several international and regional organizations, such as the
Non-Aligned Movement
, the
African Union
, the
United Nations
, and has observed several summits of
ASEAN
.
Members
[
edit
]
Multilateral relations
[
edit
]
African Union
[
edit
]
Formal relations between the two organizations started in 1977, when they announced their cooperation in financial, political and economic issues. With a summit between both organizations in
Cairo
that same year, they have signed several treaties aimed at improving cooperation.
On 16 January 2008, the Arab League sent a Delegation to the AU Headquarters in
Addis Ababa
,
Ethiopian
Capital, to gain experience from the African Security and Peace Council, which has been in work since 2004, the Arab League's decision to create an Arab Peace and Security Council was taken following the
2006 Lebanon war
, in a procedure to place Peace keeping forces into
South
Sudan,
South
Lebanon, and
Ethiopian
Peninsula, other regions such as
Iraq
and
Iranians
have not been announced or spoken of, since the Arab League's official Stance denounces any form of Foreign troops in Iraq, to maintain stability.
It is worth mentioning that
Morocco
,
Mauritania
,
Algeria
,
Tunisia
,
Libya
,
Egypt
,
Sudan
,
Djibouti
,
Somalia
and
Comoros
are common members of these two international organizations.
Eritrea
[
edit
]
In 2003,
Eritrea
the red sea country became the first Observer in the Pan-Arab Body, opening the door for it to become a prospect member in the League, while the Current
Eritrean
President has denied any plans for joining the League in the Near Future, due to its lack of efficiency.
[5]
ASEAN
[
edit
]
By January 2008 the AL and ASEAN had no significant relations, but the Arab League's Economic Council decided to Expand economic cooperation with Regional blocks, to benefit from their Economic experience and development, and started contacting the
Association of South East Asian Nations
(
ASEAN
), to build better relations and to increase investments from this region, and to learn from their Economic Achievements to be applied in the League.
which will help the Arab States to increase inner investments and inner imports and exports, the Head of the Delegation, also secretary General of the Arab Council for Economic Development (ACED), Dr. Ahmed Jweily to sign a treaty of understanding and cooperation Between the Two Organizations. The Delegation concluded the visit announcing that three New Arab Unions are to be proposed for the council's 87th summit in its following Period.
European Union
[
edit
]
The Arab League and European Union have shared relations since the EU's development into a more political power rather than an economical one, in the 19th summit of the Arab League in
Saudi Arabia
,
Javier Solana
attended the summit, giving the EU's full support to the Arab League's Peace Initiative of 2002. Following this summit, he had several meetings with
Palestinian
President
Mahmoud Abbas
and the Arab League Secretary General
Amr Moussa
.
In the summit, he addressed the Arab Leaders, stating "Once again we find ourselves together, the European Union and the Arab League, once again we have an opportunity to re-affirm our joint commitment to the values of civilisation that we share, more than ever Europeans and Arabs have to face common challenges, I am confident that we will find new ways to improve our cooperation".
[6]
France
[
edit
]
France
has been historically close with the Arab world, starting with the
Maghreb
region, and the
Near East
, but France's closest relations are considered to be with Algeria, where it served as a colony of France for around 132 years, with a bloody independence war, relations today are good, France is considered to have the Cordialest relations with All Arab states, with a large Arab population in France counting to around three million Arabs, France holds the Biggest Arab Cultural center outside the Arab league. The nation has had significant relations
with Algeria
,
with Lebanon
, and
with Libya
.
[
citation needed
]
Latin America
[
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]
Relations between the Arab League and the
Union of South American Nations
(USAN), have only been established in recent times. The AL
Secretary General
Amr Moussa
has stated that it was time for the Arab League and Latin America to seek strong relations. There are over 20 million Arabs living in Latin America, with Brazil containing over half of that number. As a result, President
Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva
was particularly vocal in efforts to improve relations.
The Arab-Latin American relations are concentrated mainly on Energy and Trade, strengthening ties between the two regions.
In May 2005, the first
South American-Arab Countries Summit
(ASPA) was held in
Brazil
, with 34 countries attending to discuss trade and energy.
Arab and Latin American economies are complementary. Latin America has developed high-tech skills and industries that will find ready markets in the Arab world as will its agricultural production. But Latin America is also energy-hungry and a ready market for Arab
oil
and downstream petrochemicals. They also have other common interests, not just a desire to see the elimination of the subsidies that allow European and American farmers to destroy the livelihoods of their counterparts elsewhere in the world. In an increasingly global economy, both want to avoid domination by the multinationals.
Yet the summit remained focused on politics rather than economics, with a joint call on
Israel
to dismantle settlements, concern about US sanctions against
Syria
, a call for UN reform, and Arab support for
Argentina
's position on the
Falkland Islands
. Developing business relations between the Arab world and South America will provide an invaluable balance to both regions' overdependence on Europe, the U.S. and Japan for imports and expertise.
[7]
Since many countries began to recognize
Jerusalem
as Israel's capital following
Donald Trump
's lead in 2017, many Latin American countries began to shift stance. When
Guatemala
recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, the Arab League has cut ties with the country in 2018.
[8]
Brazil
[
edit
]
Brazil
was admitted as an observer to the Arab League in 2002
[9]
or 2003.
[10]
The country has a strong Arab heritage, with over
11
million inhabitants of Arabic descent, many of them from
Lebanon
. The first
Summit of South American and Arab Countries
(ASPA)
[11]
was held in Brazil in May 2005, with 34 countries attending.
Venezuela
[
edit
]
Venezuela
has a large Arab population from
Syria
,
Lebanon
and
Palestine
, has supported the Palestinian Cause, and is one of two Latin American countries to cut off ties with
Israel
(the other being Bolivia). It was granted observer status in the Arab League in 2006.
[12]
Bilateral relations
[
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]
India
[
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]
Being conferred observer status in 2007,
Republic of India
was the first member to enter the League although it does not have yet that very big Arab community, neither does it have an indigenous Arabic speaking population. It does, however have a sizeable number of people claiming Arab descent. Trade between
Republic of India
and
Arab League
members was valued at US$30 billion in 2007.
[13]
India's major exports to Arab League countries are chemicals, automobiles, machinery, foodstuff and other fast moving products, while it is a large importer of Arab oil and gas.
Republic of India
also has a large diaspora in the
Arab League
countries of about
fifteen million
, of which some 20% are professionals.
[14]
Oman
and
Republic of India
enjoy particularly good relations, an example being; both countries exchange ship visits on a regular basis.
[15]
Recently, Oman has granted India berthing rights for
Indian naval
ships.
[16]
[17]
The Indian navy has also been training Omani naval forces for many years.
[18]
Qatar
is the only other country in the
Arab League
, apart from
Oman
to have a significant military relationship with
Republic of India
.
[16]
The pact guarantees
State of Qatar
of
India
intervention in case Qatar's interests are threatened.
[18]
Naval officers from Qatar, like Oman train in India under the Indian Navy's institutes. India also has some military ties with Kuwait and the
UAE
, primarily centered in the naval sphere, frequently exchanging goodwill naval visits.
[19]
The UAE has been seeking India's assistance in setting up a submarine arm and hydgrographic survey and coastal zone management.
[20]
In addition the UAE has evinced interest in training its naval personnel in India
[20]
Some
Arab League
members, namely the
UAE
have also voiced their support pertaining to deploying Indian troops in
Iraq
, although
New Delhi
has not decided on this matter.
[
citation needed
]
Some
Arab League
members have also voiced its support for
India
to be conferred a permanent seat on the
UN Security Council
.
[21]
India
was among the first countries to recognize
Palestine
when it was proclaimed in November 1988. In 2011,
India
confirmed that it will support a
Palestinian
bid for membership of the
United Nations
at a meeting of the General Assembly.
[22]
Iran
[
edit
]
Iranian-Arab relations have always been very mixed. Within the
Middle East
historical conflicts have always colored neighboring Arab countries' perceptions about
Iran
. At times peacefully coexisting, while at other times in bitter conflict. North African Arabs from have for the larger part enjoyed closer relations with
Iran
due to limited historical connection between them and
Iran
.
Israel
[
edit
]
Only six Arab states in the region recognize the
State of Israel
:
Bahrain
,
Egypt
,
Jordan
,
Morocco
and the
United Arab Emirates
, as well as the
State of Palestine
.
After the
2008?09 Gaza War
, the
League of Arab States
countries had
suspended
their relations with
Israel
.
[23]
Pakistan
[
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]
China
[
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]
The recent economic boom in the
People's Republic of China
has led to an increased demand for oil and other raw petroleum products, much of which has been supplied by member states of the Arab League. Chinese-Arab relations in the past few years have increased with the institution of several Arab-Chinese business forums, conferences and meetings to increase trade and cooperation in recent years. China is the second-largest financial investor in Sudan following the other members of the Arab League, and as a result a majority of Sudan's production of petroleum is sent overseas to China. Foreign ties have also been made with the Arab League states of Morocco, Algeria, Egypt, Iraq and Syria in order to further invest in petroleum production in the Middle East and North Africa.
As of 2008, the Arab League and the People's Republic of China have agreed to create an annual forum between the two parties in order to discuss matters of economics, trade and environmental studies. In 2009, the forum was expanded to also include the discussion of various nuclear projects.
Russia
[
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]
Arab Russian relations go back to the Khazars and their wars with the Arab Empire, but has flourished most under the
Soviet Union
, with the Communist Union of Soviet Socialist Republics' support for several Socialist Arab regimes against the Capitalist United States during the cold war, regimes like Nasser's Egypt and the Baathist regimes of Syria and Iraq, as well as other Socialist regimes in Libya and South Yemen.
After the end of the cold war and the establishment of the Russia Federation, new ties have been made.
Russia
with its strong diplomatic relations with Arab States from the Soviet Era, is trying to regain its strength by supporting their causes, especially in the Security Council.
Turkey
[
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]
Turkey
has a historical connection dated back from the
Ottoman Empire
, and it is also complicated due to historical reasons. Turkey has expressed desires for an observer status in the League, but has been refused for several political reasons. One of the reasons for refusals came from Iraq and Syria due to the Turkish Water Projects on the
Tigris
and
Euphrates
rivers, especially the
Ataturk Dam
. Also the
Hatay Province
's choice of self-annexation to Turkey in 1939 was never recognized by Syria, which continues to show the Hatay Province of Turkey as part of Syria's territory in its maps.
Today, Turkey has improved relations with
Egypt
, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Tunisia. It also functions as the main broker in the Israeli-Syrian peace process. However, a primary concern for Turkey stems from the possibility of an independent Kurdish state arising from a destabilized Iraq. Turkey is currently fighting a
war against Kurdish insurgents
on its own soil, in which an estimated 37,000 people have lost their lives.
United States
[
edit
]
The
United States
' relationship with the
Arab World
prior to the Second World War was limited. Moreover, in comparison to
European powers
such as
Britain
and
France
which had managed to colonize almost all of the Arab World after defeating the
Ottoman Empire
in 1918, the United States was popular and respected among the Arabs, for having brought modern medicine, and setting up educational institutions in several Arab nations. The US had also provided the Arab World with highly skilled petroleum engineers. Thus, there were some connections which were made between the United States and the Arab World, before the Second World War. Other examples of corporations between the US and the Arab World are the Red Line Agreement signed in 1928 and the
Anglo-American Petroleum Agreement
signed in 1944. Both of these agreements were legally binding and reflected an American interest in control of Arab and Middle Eastern energy resources, namely
oil
, and moreover reflected an American security imperative to prevent the (re)emergence of a powerful regional rival. The
Red Line Agreement
had been part of a network of agreements made in the 1920s to restrict supply of petroleum and ensure that the major [mostly American] companies...could control oil prices on world markets. The Red Line agreement governed the development of Arab oil for the next two decades. The Anglo-American Petroleum Agreement of 1944 was based on negotiations between the United States and Britain over the control of Arab and Middle Eastern oil.
Uzbekistan
[
edit
]
Arab League relations with
Uzbekistan
have been almost nonexistent until 2007. Then the Arab League Secretary General
Amr Moussa
and the Uzbek president
Islam Karimov
have met to carry on discussions held previously in Cairo, for more Arab cooperation with Central Asia and more Central Asian support for Arab causes, such as Iraq, Sudan and Palestine.
[24]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
David Noack: Syriens Beziehungen zu Lateinamerika, in: amerika21.de, 11.01.2011.
(German)
- ^
"Armenia invited as observer for Arab League"
.
Azad Hye
. 19 January 2005
. Retrieved
20 May
2014
.
- ^
"Chad to join Arab League as observer"
.
www.aljazeera.com
.
- ^
"Greece to become observer member of the Arab League"
.
greekcitytimes.com
.
- ^
"Eritrea president: We will not join the Arab league, no tensions with Yemen"
. Archived from
the original
on 2010-03-31
. Retrieved
2010-02-13
.
- ^
"Summary of remarks by Javier SOLANA, EU High Representative for CFSP, at the 19th Arab League Summit. Riyadh, 28 March 2007"
(PDF)
. Council of the European Union
. Retrieved
2007-10-30
.
- ^
"New centre to boost Middle East-Latin America investments"
.
Thaindian News
. Thaindian.com Company Limited. 23 February 2008. Archived from
the original
on 11 September 2015
. Retrieved
23 June
2012
.
- ^
"Arab League cancels deals with Guatemala over Jerusalem embassy move"
.
Middle East Monitor
. 2018-05-24
. Retrieved
2022-02-04
.
- ^
"L'influence des BRIC en Mediterranee", by Sebastien Abis,
Mediterranean Yearbook 2010
, Barcelona: Institut Europeu de la Mediterrania, 2011.
- ^
"Quienes son los Arabes? Breve perfil sociologico e historico"
, by Abdelmalik Hamza,
Alif Nun
No. 76, November 2009, Madrid: Kalamo Libros, 2009. In
Spanish
- ^
"Summit of South American-Arab Countries, Cupula America do Sul-Paises Arabes, Cumbre America del Sur-Paises Arabes"
. Archived from
the original
on 2012-03-09
. Retrieved
2011-05-23
.
- ^
"The Arab League, on the International Democracy Watch website"
. Archived from
the original
on 2011-08-18
. Retrieved
2011-05-23
.
- ^
ASHOK B SHARMA (2 December 2008).
"India-Arab trade to rise to $100 bn"
.
The Financial Express
. The Indian Express Limited
. Retrieved
23 June
2012
.
- ^
"Indo-Arab trade can touch $100 b"
.
Business Line
. The Hindu Business Line. 3 December 2008
. Retrieved
23 June
2012
.
- ^
"India activates first listening post on foreign soil: radars in Madagascar"
.
The Indian Express
. The Indian Express Limited. 17 July 2008
. Retrieved
23 June
2012
.
- ^
a
b
"Indian Naval ships to arrive in Kuwait"
.
Kuwait Times
. Kuwait Times Newspaper. 11 August 2007
. Retrieved
23 June
2012
.
- ^
"India activates first listening post on foreign soil: radars in Madagascar"
.
The Indian Express
. 2007-07-18
. Retrieved
2022-02-04
.
- ^
a
b
"India security deal with Qatar does not involve stationing troops: Official"
.
Zee News
. Zee News Limited. 11 November 2008. Archived from
the original
on 13 August 2012
. Retrieved
23 June
2012
.
- ^
"Indian Naval ships to arrive in Kuwait ≫ Kuwait Times Website"
.
www.kuwaittimes.net
. Archived from
the original
on 2012-02-13.
- ^
a
b
"UAE wants to train navy personnel in India"
.
Rediff
. Retrieved
2022-02-04
.
- ^
"India's voice can help Middle East peace: Arab League"
.
RxPG News
. RxPG Medical Solutions Private Limited. 10 May 2007
. Retrieved
23 June
2012
.
- ^
"India to back Palestinian bid for U.N. membership"
.
The Hindu
. Chennai, India. 17 September 2011.
- ^
"Qatar, Mauritania cut ties with Israel"
. BayBak. 2009-01-17. Archived from
the original
on 2017-02-19
. Retrieved
2012-06-23
.
- ^
League of Arab States
Archived
2007-09-30 at the
Wayback Machine
(Arabic)
External links
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League relations
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Member relations
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