During his upcoming visit to Riyadh, President Trump will reportedly unveil the basic framework for a new plan for an “Arab NATO,” which he envisions as formally unifying Sunni Arab nations in the region under a NATO-style command structure for wars.
Proposals for “Arab NATO” aren’t entirely new, and it’s not even clear how this would be broadly different from the existing GCC alliance, itself a Saudi-dominated faction which encompasses many of the Sunni Arab-dominated states in the region anyhow. Jordan and Egypt appear to be intended to be the only non-GCC members.
Trump is said to have been discussing this plan with Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Crown Prince for awhile now, creating an organization which the US wouldn’t be a member of, but would retain massive influence, and presumably control over.
Most of the details of the plan are still unclear, and the last real effort at such a move, by Egypt back in 2015, collapsed almost immediately after being proposed. The underlying conceit appears to be that unity would help in the war against ISIS, though in practice the war is happening almost entirely outside of the territory of these nations anyhow.
What idiot came up with this idea: “Arab NATO”? Trump is totally mislead by his advisers. Also, Trump is going to sell this barbaric regime Saudi Arabia who fund, arm and provide manpower to radical Sunni Jihadist groups $350 billion worth of weapons? I am sensing a subterfuge by Trump. A sell out. Does Trump know what this barbaric regime is doing to the folks in Yemen?
What the hell?
OMG… what a completely maniacal and insidious idea… only a psychopath of the highest order could possibly want to implement such a horrid thing
… divide and rule, just like in Iraq where Sunni and Shia lived in peace before the US invasion.
… divide and rule, just like in Iraq where Sunni and Shia lived in peace before the US invasion.
The fact that Trump is visiting that s**t ole as his first official visit is enough to make one vomit. Doesn’t matter what he talks about.
Look at the map. NATO has the Eastern approach to Russia covered. Except for Turkey the Southern states fronting Russia are not unified the way the Europeans are. This “Arab NATO” would not add much if anything unless Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan are members too.