Regional escalation... testing alliances and Arab security

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When the Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Badr Abdel Aty, Cairo’s readiness to provide all forms of support requested by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, including military support. The message goes beyond the limits of traditional diplomatic solidarity, to reflect a clear Egyptian position that considers the Kingdom’s security to be an integral part of Egyptian and Arab national security.

At a time when Houthi attacks on Saudi territory are escalating, this message gains double importance, as it is an expression of Cairo’s awareness of the seriousness of the stage and the necessity of supporting the brothers in confronting the threats targeting their security and stability.

But the Egyptian position did not stop at the limits of official statements. The popular message came warmer and more spontaneous, when a leaflet from the Saudi embassy in Cairo, in which it called on the Kingdom’s citizens whose flights were disrupted to contact it to ask for help, turned into an exceptional Egyptian demonstration of love, during which Egyptians competed to offer to host their Saudi brothers in their homes and provide for their needs, stressing that their homes are open to them, and that they are not strangers in Egypt, but rather among their families and relatives.

These comments were not just passing pleasantries on social networking sites, but rather reflected an accumulated balance of human and social relations between the two peoples, created by long years of residence, work, family and cultural interaction, and the exchange of positions in times of distress.

It also revealed a truth that political calculations alone cannot explain: that Egyptian-Saudi relations are not merely understandings between two governments, but rather a solid popular bond that transcends crises and gives the relationship between the two countries an exceptional degree of cohesion.

These scenes gain their deeper significance in light of the escalation taking place in the region, as the Kingdom is exposed to threats affecting its security and sovereignty, while the confrontation with the Houthis in Yemen is intertwined with the broader conflict between the United States and Iran, and the risks surrounding the security of the Gulf, sea lanes, and energy markets are escalating.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is not facing an isolated security crisis, but rather finds itself at the heart of an extremely complex regional scene, in which military calculations intertwine with influence stakes, and in which vital installations and sea lanes are transformed into pressure cards whose repercussions may extend beyond the borders of the region. Any expansion of the confrontation will not only have an impact on the Gulf states, but will extend to international trade, energy security, and Arab economies, most notably Egyptian interests linked to the stability of the Red Sea and the Suez Canal.

In such moments, Arab solidarity becomes a strategic necessity, not just a moral position. Targeting the Kingdom’s security cannot be treated as a Saudi matter separate from the rest of the Arab countries, and preserving Yemen’s stability and supporting its national state and its legitimate institutions remain essential elements in any serious approach to the security of the Gulf and the region.

However, the crisis also raises important questions about the credibility of international alliances and their ability to provide security and stability. The United States, with its military and political influence, is required to bear greater responsibility for containing the repercussions of the confrontation and preventing its expansion, rather than leaving the region alone to face the consequences of an escalation in which the calculations and interests of the major powers overlap.

This does not mean that Arab security should remain hostage to the positions of Washington or others. Rather, the current moment requires a move from verbal solidarity to building a more cohesive Arab approach, combining political and diplomatic coordination, strengthening defense capabilities, protecting sea lanes and vital installations, and serious work to settle conflicts that threaten the stability of the region.

Egypt, with its official position and the feelings of its people, has presented a clear model of solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Between the statement of the Foreign Minister and the offers of the Egyptians to open their homes to the Saudi brothers, two complementary pictures of the relationship between the two countries are evident: the position of a state that realizes that the security of its sister is part of its security, and a people who actually confirm that the bonds of love and common destiny are too deep to be shaken by crises.

But transforming this political and popular capital into a sustainable strategic force remains the most important challenge. Arab security is not protected by feelings alone, no matter how strong and sincere they are, but it is also protected by common will, effective coordination, and the ability to initiate and make decisions.

In a region where the balance of power is changing rapidly, and where the cost of relying on the accounts of others is increasing, there appears to be an urgent need for an Arab security system that makes popular and political solidarity the basis for a practical partnership capable of protecting common interests, preventing the expansion of conflicts, and preserving the future of the region.

Quoted from "Al-Watan News".