Egypt hosts Arab military exercises in what could develop into an ‘Arab NATO’

By Reuters - Oct 31,2018 - Last updated at Oct 31,2018

Saudi forces arrive in Egypt for Arab Shield 1 exercise on Wednesday (Photo courtesy of Saudi Press Agency)

CAIRO — Armed forces and observers from eight Arab countries are converging on Egypt for exercises starting on Saturday, the Egyptian military said on Wednesday, in a move that could evolve into a regional pact to counter Iran's influence.

President Donald Trump's administration has been quietly pushing for Gulf Arab countries, together with Egypt and Jordan, to start putting together what some White House officials have called an "Arab NATO" of Sunni Muslim allies to stand against Shiite power Iran.

A Saudi-led coalition of Arab states is already intervening in Yemen's war, staging air strikes against Iran-aligned Houthi forces which control much of the country's north, including the capital Sanaa.

In a statement on his Facebook page, the Egyptian military spokesman said that air, ground, naval and special forces from the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan have begun arriving in Egypt for the exercises called "The Shield of the Arabs 1", due to be held from November 3-16.

Observers from Lebanon and Morocco will also attend the manoeuvres, the spokesman, Colonel Tamer Al Refai said.

Refai said the exercises were part of Egypt's efforts to enhance military cooperation with other Arab countries, but declined to speculate on whether they could evolve into some sort of a military alliance.

Qatar, which is involved in a row with Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt, and Oman are not participating in the exercises.

The White House confirmed in July it had been working on the concept of an alliance with its regional partners for several months.

A US source said that Saudi officials had raised the idea of a security pact before Trump visited the kingdom last year when he announced a massive arms deal, but the alliance proposal did not get off the ground.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called on Tuesday for a cessation of hostilities in Yemen and said UN-led negotiations to end the civil war should begin next month.

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