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Radio France Internationale
Radio France Internationale
World
RFI

Could Middle East war bring region closer to an 'Arab NATO'?

Smoke rises from Zayed Port in Abu Dhabi after a reported Iranian strike on 1 March 2026. Attacks across the Gulf have reignited debate about whether Arab states should develop a joint defence force. © AFP - RYAN LIM

Egypt is again calling for a joint Arab military alliance – sometimes described as an “Arab NATO” – to defend the region. But Arab states are deeply divided over the idea, Middle East analyst Hasni Abidi tells RFI.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi this week renewed calls for a common Arab force – a proposal that has been discussed for years but has never taken shape.

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