Arab states reaffirm efforts to build security

The conference adopted the Jeddah Declaration, which reaffirmed the AL's unified stance on efforts to create security and stability throughout the Arab world.

Arab News commented on May 20 that the 2023 AL Summit takes place at a time when many countries around the world are facing economic crises after 3 years of the pandemic, as well as suffering the impacts of the war in Ukraine.

Even in the Arab world, many geopolitical developments are directly affecting the bloc's members, such as the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the fighting in Sudan, Yemen, Libya, Syria and the economic-political crisis in Lebanon.

Speaking at a press conference after the conference, AL Secretary General Ahmed Aboul Gheit affirmed that the results achieved at this conference could help resolve internal issues and strengthen solidarity in the Arab world, saying that this would be the first step for Arab countries to "decide their own destiny."

The summit welcomed a surprise guest who briefly appeared: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, with the aim of mobilizing Arab countries' support for Kiev in the Russia-Ukraine war. In another development, Russian President Vladimir Putin also sent a letter to the AL Summit, stating that Moscow attaches great importance to developing partnership with Arab countries.

In response, the rotating AL chairman, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, expressed goodwill to both sides and reaffirmed his readiness to mediate in the Russia-Ukraine war. Thus, it can be seen that the AL bloc's influence is no longer limited to the region. The Gulf countries have made efforts to show neutrality in the Russia-Ukraine war, despite the West's pressure measures aimed at isolating Russia, a key member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its partners (OPEC+).

The event of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad attending the AL Summit for the first time in 12 years also attracted public attention. According to analysts, Syria's re-entry into the "Arab family" is part of a more open foreign policy trend in the Middle East, where former rivals are trying to take steps to mend strained relations after years of conflict and confrontation.

“We hope that Syria's return to the AL will mark the end of the crisis in the country... We are moving towards peace, good, cooperation and construction for the benefit of our people and to protect the interests of our member states,” Al Arabiya quoted Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as saying.

The highlight of this conference was the adoption of the Jeddah Declaration by the AL, which rejected foreign interference in the internal affairs of Arab countries, while emphasizing that military conflicts would only aggravate the suffering of the people and hinder the development of countries in the region. The Jeddah Declaration also reiterated the implementation of the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, called on all parties to de-escalate tensions in Sudan, called for reforms to help Lebanon escape the crisis, and supported the initiative to promote security and stability in Yemen...

In addition, the AL affirmed that it will strengthen the implementation of initiatives, promote the bloc's joint actions in the fields of culture, economy, society...; maintain the supply chain of basic food items, contributing to ensuring food security for Arab countries.

It can be said that the success of the 2023 AL Summit under the leadership of regional power Saudi Arabia has contributed to strengthening the solidarity of the Arab world. Through this, the oil-rich country - which was once influenced by the US in its foreign policies - is "going against the tide" with an independent foreign policy and building global influence in the role of a peace-making country.

HA PHUONG

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