THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Projecting its ambition for regional leadership, Saudi Arabia announced in December 2015 that it has lined up most of the Arab world, NATO member Turkey and several African and Asian countries in an “Islamic military alliance” against terrorism.
The move allows the kingdom to lead the fight against extremism. Riyadh has supported rebels fighting to overthrow Syrian President Bashar Assad and has been leading an Arab coalition against Houthi rebels in Yemen since March 2015. It is also part of the U.S.-led coalition fighting Daesh militants in Syria and Iraq.
The announcement on state media said the Saudi-led alliance is being established because terrorism “should be fought by all means.”
His Royal Highness Deputy Crown Prince and Defense Minister Mohammed bin Salman said in a rare news conference that the bloc will develop mechanisms for working with other countries and international bodies to support counterterrorism efforts. Efforts would not be limited to countering Daesh, he added.
“Currently, every Muslim country is fighting terrorism individually … so coordinating efforts is very important,” he said.
Though few details were given, the statement said the alliance would not only counter Sunni extremists, but protect Muslim nations from all terrorists “whatever their doctrine.”
U.S. White House spokesman Josh Earnest said the alliance wouldn’t be a substitute or a replacement for the U.S.-led coalition fighting Daesh, noting that the Saudi effort was intended to focus on broader targets. The Saudis have made “important contributions” to the anti-Daesh coalition led by Washington, “and we anticipate that they will continue to do so,” he said.
Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said in Paris that members could ask for assistance from the coalition, which would address the requests “on a case-by-case basis.” He did not rule out the deployment of ground troops.
“There is no limit in terms of where the assistance would be provided, or to whom it would be provided,” he said.
The new coalition includes nations with large and established armies such as Pakistan, Turkey and Egypt, as well as war-torn countries such as Libya and Yemen. African nations that have suffered militant attacks, such as Mali, Chad, Somalia and Nigeria, also are members.
Hisham Jaber, a retired Lebanese general who heads the Middle East Center for Studies and Political Research in Beirut, called the new bloc “necessary, but not enough.”
Mustafa Alani, the director of the security and defense department at the Gulf Research Center in Geneva, said new counterterrorism strategies, including standing ground forces, are required to confront the changing threat posed by groups such as Daesh, which is intent on state building as much as solitary attacks.
“Islam is accused — directly or indirectly — of sponsoring terrorism. Everyone has to prove not guilty,” he said. “This project is going to offer Muslim boots on the ground.”
The alliance’s roster includes Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Chad, Comoros, Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Gabon, Guinea, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria. Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen.