Foreign relations of the Arab League
This article needs additional citations for verification. (September 2007) |
The
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.
Part of a series on the |
Politics of the Arab world |
---|
Members
- Algeria
- Bahrain
- Comoros
- Djibouti
- Egypt
- Iraq
- Jordan
- Kuwait
- Lebanon
- Libya
- Mauritania
- Morocco
- Oman
- Palestine
- Qatar
- Saudi Arabia
- Somalia
- Sudan
- Syria
- Tunisia
- United Arab Emirates
- Yemen
Multilateral relations
African Union
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
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
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
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
European Union
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
France
Latin America
Relations between the Arab League and the
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
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
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
India
Being conferred observer status in 2007,
Some
Iran
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
Only six Arab states in the region recognize the
Pakistan
China
The recent economic boom in the
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
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
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 Atatürk 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
The
Uzbekistan
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
- ^ 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. 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 Méditerranée", by Sébastien Abis, Mediterranean Yearbook 2010, Barcelona: Institut Europeu de la Mediterrània, 2011.
- ^ "Quiénes son los Árabes? Breve perfil sociológico e histórico", by Abdelmalik Hamza, Alif Nun No. 76, November 2009, Madrid: Kálamo Libros, 2009. In Spanish
- ^ "Summit of South American-Arab Countries, Cúpula América do Sul-Países Árabes, Cumbre América del Sur-Países Árabes". 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. Retrieved 2012-06-23.
- ^ League of Arab States Archived 2007-09-30 at the Wayback Machine (Arabic)