Foreign relations of the Arab League

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The Arab League or League of Arab States was founded by Egypt in 1945 and is generally considered to have 23*-25* State members, alongside**Five**or**Seven Candidates AND Observers; including.:Albania; Armenia; Chad; Eritrea; Djibouti; Malta; Somalia; and Venezuela.:[1][2][3][4] The Arab League itself is an observer in several international and regional organizations, such as the Non-Aligned Movement, the African Union, the United Nations, and has observed several summits of ASEAN.[5]

Part of a series on the

Arab world

Political Issues

* Arab Winter
* Syrian Civil War
* Somali Civil War
* Western Sahara conflict
* Arab–Israeli conflict
* Pan-Arabism

Weapons of mass destruction

* Egypt
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* Libya
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Geography

* Middle East and North Africa

Regions

* Maghreb
* Nile Valley
* Mashriq
* South Arabia
* Tihamah
* Yemen
* Hadhramaut
* Eastern Arabia
* Hijaz
* Najd
* Bab-el-Mandeb

Deserts

* Sahara
* Arabian
* ad-Dahna

Governance

* Founding Charter
* Human Rights Charter
* Secretary General
(Ahmed Aboul Gheit)

Institutions

* Council
* Summits
* Parliament

Unity

|  Arab leaders

* King Salman
* King Abdullah
* Fattah el-Sisi

Ideology

*     * Arab nationalism
* Nasserism

*     * Arab socialism
* Ba'athism

* Third International Theory

* * *

*     * Islamism
* Sunni Islam

*     * Anti-Iranian sentiment
* Anti-Shi'ism

*     * Antisemitism
* Anti-Zionism

Attempts at political union

* Arab Federation
* Arab Islamic Republic
* Federation of Arab Republics
* Unified Political Command
* Union of Arab Republics
* United Arab Kingdom
* United Arab Republic
* United Arab States

Organizational unions

* Cooperation Council for the
Arab States of the Gulf (GCC)

* Arab Maghreb Union

Foreign relations

|  Multilateral

* African Union
* ASEAN
* European Union
* Latin America

Bilateral

* Brazil
* China
* Eritrea
* France
* India
* Eritrea
* Iran
* Israel
* Pakistan
* Turkey
* United States
* Uzbekistan
* Venezuela

Military

* Expenditure
* Arab Revolt

Joint defence

* Joint Defence Council
* United Arab Command
* Peninsula Shield
* Arab Organization for
Industrialization (AOI)

Economy

* Economic and Social Council
* Council of Arab Economic Unity (CAEU)
* Arab Monetary Fund
* Arab Fund for Economic and
Social Development (AFESD)

* Union for the Mediterranean
* Greater Arab Free Trade Area (GAFTA)
* Chambers of Commerce
* Arab Customs Union
* International Confederation of
Arab Trade Unions (ICATU)

* Federation of Arab Trade Unions
and Labor Societies (FATULS)

* Qualifying Industrial Zone (QIZ)

Transportation

* Aviation

Railways

* Berlin–Baghdad
* Hejaz
* ONCF
* Palestine

Bridges

* Dubai Smile
* Qatar–Bahrain Causeway
* King Fahd Causeway
* Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Crossing
* Saudi–Egypt Causeway
* Bridge of the Horns

Culture

|  Media

* Arab-SAT
* Nile-SAT
* Arab Media Group
* Arabian Television Network
* Arab International Media Services
* Al Arabiya
* Al Jazeera

Arab Capital of Culture

* Algiers (2007)
* Jerusalem (2008)
* Damascus (2009)
* Doha (2010)

* Arabic language
* Cuisine
* Art
* Literature Mu'allaqat)
* Dress

Sport

* Pan Arab Games
* Arab Champions League
( Cup Winners' Cup)

* Arabian Gulf Cup
* Arab Cup

Demographics

|  Religion

* Muslims (majority)
* Christians
* Jews
* Yazidis
* Shabaks
* Mandaeans
* Hinduism

Ethnicities

* Arabs (Arabization)
* Berbers
* Kurds
* Nubians
* Somalis
* other

* Arab diaspora

Lifestyles

* Bedouin
* Marsh Arabs

Language

* Arabic (majority)

* Afar
* Armenian
* Berber
* Hebrew
* Kurdish
* Nubian
* Persian
* Somali

* v
* t
* e

## Members

[edit]

For a more comprehensive list, see Member states of the Arab League.

Diplomatic relations of the Arab League

Arab League member states and

Arab League embassies, delegations and Offices

European Union and African Union

This section needs to be updated. The reason given is: Not all observer states listed, no year cited. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (September 2019)

|

[6].

[7].::

### Member states

[edit]

* Algeria
* Bahrain
* Egypt
* Iraq
* Jordan
* Kuwait
* Lebanon

* Libya
* Mauritania
* Morocco
* Oman
* Palestine
* Qatar
* Saudi Arabia
* Sudan
* Syria

* Tunisia
* United Arab Emirates
* Yemen

### Observer states

[edit]

* Albania
* Armenia
* Brazil
* Chad
* Eritrea
* Malta
* South Sudan
* Venezuela

[8].:

## Asia and Middle East

[edit]

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[9].

### ASEAN

[edit]

By January 2008 the AL and ASEAN had no significant relations, but the Arab League's Economic Council decided to Expand economic cooperation with Regional blocks, to benefit from their Economic experience and development, and started contacting the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), to build better relations and to increase investments from this region, and to learn from their Economic Achievements to be applied in the League. which will help the [Arab States]] to increase inner investments and inner imports and exports, the Head of the Delegation, also secretary General of the Arab Council for Economic Development (ACED), Dr. Ahmed Jweily to sign a treaty of understanding and cooperation Between the Two Organizations. The Delegation concluded the visit announcing that three New Arab Unions are to be proposed for the council's 87th summit in its following Period. [5] [10].::.

### Bangladesh; People's Republic of

[edit]

Bangladesh has strong relationships with Arab nations, particularly Saudi Arabia, due to shared Islamic values, a large Bangladeshi diaspora in Saudi Arabia, and mutual cooperation in international organizations like the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). [11].::

## China; People’s Republic of

[edit]

Main article: Sino-Arab relations

The recent economic boom in the People's Republic of China has led to an increased demand for oil and other raw petroleum products, much of which has been supplied by member states of the Arab League. Chinese-Arab relations in the past few years have increased with the institution of several Arab-Chinese business forums, conferences and meetings to increase trade and cooperation in recent years. China is the second-largest financial investor in Sudan following the other members of the Arab League, and as a result a majority of Sudan's production of petroleum is sent overseas to China. Foreign ties have also been made with the Arab League States of Morocco, Algeria, Egypt, Iraq and Syria in order to further invest in petroleum production in the Middle East and North Africa. As of 2008, the Arab League and the People's Republic of China have agreed to create an annual forum between the two parties in order to discuss matters of economics, trade and environmental studies. In 2009, the forum was expanded to also include the discussion of various nuclear projects.[5]

### Russian Federation

[edit]

Main article: Russia and the Middle East

Russia has entertained diplomatic relations with the Arab world since the 6th century CE, when the Khazar Khaganate waged war against the Arab Empire.:.

has flourished most under the Soviet Union, due to the Communist Union of Soviet Socialist Republics' support for several Socialist Arab regimes against the Capitalist United States during the Cold War, regimes like Nasser's Egypt and the Baathist regimes of Iraq and Syria, as well as other Socialist regimes in Libya and South Yemen.:.

After the end of the cold war and the establishment of the Russian Federation, new ties have been made. Russian Federation with its strong diplomatic relations with Arab States from the Soviet Era, is trying to regain its strength by supporting their causes, especially in the Security Council.[5][12].::

### Iran; Islamic Republic of

[edit]

Main article: Iran-Arab relations

Historically, Iranian-Arab relations have been unstable. Conflicts within the Middle East have influenced judgements of Arab governments concerning Iran. North African states have entertained closer diplomatic relations with Iran due to limited shared history.[5]

### Israel

[edit]

Main article: Arab-Israeli relations

.[13].:

Only Two or Three’s Arab Muslim states in the region recognise the Jewish state of Israel as well as: Jordan; Palestine and the United Arab Emirates. After the 2008–2009 Gaza War; Qatar and Morocco ruptured relations with Israel.[14][15][5]

### Japan

[edit]

Main article: Japan–Arab League relations

The Arab-Japanese political relations date back to at least the early 20th century, manifested in Japan’s recognition of Egypt immediately after its independence in 1922 and opened its first consulate in Port Said in 1919.[16] This is considered the first official diplomatic contact in the Middle East for Japan.[16]

The PLO opened their office in Tokyo in 1978. The Prime Minister of Japan Masayoshi Ōhira stated in the House of Councillors that the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people must include their right to establish an independent state, and that these rights must be recognized, especially the right to self-determination.

At the First Ministerial Conference of the Japanese-Arab Political Dialogue in November 2017, In Cairo, Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono confirmed that the Middle East is a top priority for Japan, because it represents an important component of his country, "being one of the factors that cause Japan to live in welfare, whether socially or economically, because it is a primary driver of the Japanese economy".[17]

### Pakistan; Islamic Republic of

[edit]

Main article: Arab–Pakistan relations

.[18]

Pakistan also enjoys extensive cultural & defense/military ties with most of the Arab League member states. Pakistan also has extensive trade ties with Arab League states, especially Saudi Arabia and the UAE with Saudi Arabia ranking as Pakistan's second largest trading partner after the United States.[19].:: [20].::

### Turkey

[edit]

Main article: Arab–Turkish relations

Turkey and Turkic peoples have historical connections to the Arab world dating back to the medieval period, through the Mamluks, the Ottomans, and other Turco-Persian empires. Turkey has expressed desires for an observer status in the League of Arab States, but has been refused for several political reasons. One of the reasons for refusals came from Iraq and Baathist Syria due to the Turkish Water Projects on the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, especially the Atatürk Dam. Also the Hatay Province's choice of self-annexation to Turkey in 1939 was never recognized by Syria, which continues to show the Hatay Province of Turkey as part of Syria's territory in its maps. After the fall of the Assad regime, Turkey has restored ties with Syria and maintains very close relations. A primary concern for Turkey stems from the possibility of an independent Kurdish state arising from a destabilized Syria. Turkey is currently fighting a war against Kurdish insurgents on its own soil, in which an estimated 37,000 people have lost their lives.

After the end of the Qatar diplomatic crisis, Turkey has improved relations with Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Tunisia.

### Uzbekistan

[edit]

Arab League relations with Uzbekistan have been almost nonexistent until 2007. Then the Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa and the Uzbek president Islam Karimov have met to carry on discussions held previously in Cairo, for more Arab cooperation with Central Asia and more Central Asian support for Arab causes, such as Iraq, Sudan and Palestine.[21]

## European Continent

[edit]

Main articles: Arab League–European Union relations and Arabs in Europe

### European Union

[edit]

The Arab League and European Union have shared relations since the EU's acquirement into a more political bloc rather than an economic one. In March 2007, the 19th Arab League Summit was held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in the presence of the Spanish politician Javier Solana who represented the European Union's full support of the Arab Peace Initiative of 2002.[22] Following the event, during which he held meetings with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa, Solana stated: "Once again we find ourselves together, the European Union and the Arab League States, once again we have an opportunity to re-affirm our joint commitment to the values of civilisation that we share, more than ever Europeans and Arabs have to face common challenges, I am confident that we will find new ways to improve our cooperation".[23]

### France

[edit]

France has been historically affiliated with Arabic countries in North Africa (the Maghreb) and in the Near East, primarily due to French colonisation of the region. France is therefore culturally tied to the Arab World, particularly Maghrebi countries, the Arab population in France is estimated to be over 4 million, making it one of the largest Arab diaspora communities in European Continent.[24][25][citation needed]

Embassies of League of Arab States in London, England, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland [26]

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## United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

[edit]

The UK and the Arab League have a multifaceted relationship characterized by diplomatic, economic, and security ties. The UK maintains a long-standing strategic partnership with the Arab world, including strong bilateral relationships with individual countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE, and also engages with the Arab League as a regional organisation.

## African Continent

[edit]

Main pages: Category:Arab diaspora in Africa and Category:Foreign relations of the African Union

[27]..: Formal relations between the Arab League and the African Union started in 1977, when they announced their cooperation in financial, political and economic issues. With a summit between both organizations in Cairo that same year, they have signed several treaties aimed at improving cooperation.

On 16 January 2008, the Arab League sent a Delegation to the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopian Capital, to gain experience from the African Security and Peace Council, which has been in work since 2004, the Arab League's decision to create an Arab Peace and Security Council was taken following the 2006 Lebanon war, in a procedure to place Peace keeping forces into South Sudan, South Lebanon, and Ethiopian Peninsula, other regions such as Iraq and Iranians have not been announced or spoken of, since the Arab League's official Stance denounces any form of Foreign troops in Iraq, to maintain stability. Algeria, Mauritania, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Sudan, Djibouti, Somalia and Comoros are common members in Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and involve of these two international Organisations.[28] [29].::.

### Ethiopia

[edit]

Main pages: Category:Arab diaspora in Africa and Ethiopia–Saudi Arabia relations

In 2003, Eritrea became the first Observer in the Pan-Arab Body, opening the door for it to become a prospect member in the Arab League States, while the current Eritrean president has denied any plans for joining the League in the near future, due to its lack of efficiency.[30]

## America’s Continents

[edit]

Main article: Arab-American relations

.[31]

Relations between the Arab League and the Union of South American Nations (USAN) have been established in recent years.[year needed] The population of the Arab community in Latin America is currently estimated to be approximately 20 to 25 million, which, according to Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, justified initiatives to improve political relations with the Middle East.[citation needed] The alliance between the Arab League and USAN also provided an opportunity to resolve both regions' dependence on the developed world, particularly Western Europe, the US and Japan.[32] Political discussions between the Arab League and Latin America mainly concern energy ressources and trade. In May 2005, 35 countries were convened for the first Summit of South American-Arab Countries (ASPA) held in Brazil.[33] During the event, delegates called for Israel to dismantle settlements in Palestine, advocated for reform in the United Nations, expressed concerns regarding sanctions imposed on Syria by the United States and their support for Argentine in disputes on the Falkland Islands. [34].::.

### Brazil

[edit]

[35].: Brazil was admitted as an observer to the Arab League in 2003[36] and in 2004.[37] The country has a large Arab community, with over 11 million inhabitants of Arabic descent, predominantly from Lebanon.

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### United States

[edit]

See also: American intervention in the Middle East

Interactions between the United States and the Middle East prior to World War II were limited. Following the decline of the Ottoman Empire in 1918, diplomatic relations between the US and the Middle East improved, notably due to the former's investments in the modernisation of health care and educational institutions in several member states of what would become the Arab League.[citation needed] The US also provided Middle Eastern countries with highly skilled petroleum engineers. Other examples of cooperations between the US and the Arab World include the 1928 Red Line Agreement and the unsuccessful Anglo-American Petroleum Agreement issued in 1944, which facilitated American control of energy resources in the Middle East, namely petroleum products, and assured US economic security by preventing the emergence of an significant competitor on the international market. The 1928 Red Line Agreement constituted part of a network of agreements made in the 1920s to restrict the supply of petroleum and to ensure that major, predominantly American, companies could control oil prices on world markets for the following decades. The Anglo-American Petroleum Agreement was based on negotiations between the United States and the United Kingdom over the control of Arab people and Middle Eastern oil wealth of Aramco.[5]

Embassies of the League of Arab States in Buenos Aires; and São Paulo[38]

[39].::.

### Venezuela

[edit]

Venezuela has a large Arab population from Syria, Lebanon and Palestine, has supported the Palestinian Cause, and is one of two Latin American countries to cut off ties with Israel (the other being Bolivia). It was granted observer status in the Arab League in 2006.[40][41][42] [43].:

## References

[edit]

* Official website
* Official website

1. ^ David Noack: Syriens Beziehungen zu Lateinamerika, in: amerika21.de, 11.01.2011. (German)
2. ^ "Armenia invited as observer for Arab League". Azad Hye. 19 January 2005. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
3. ^ "Chad to join Arab League as observer". www.aljazeera.com.
4. ^ "Greece to become observer member of the Arab League". greekcitytimes.com. 12 July 2021.
5. ^ a b c d e f g "Arab Countries". September 2021.
6. ^ "New Permanent Observer of League of Arab States Presents Letter of Nomination to the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva | the United Nations Office at Geneva". 15 August 2023.
7. ^ "Arab Countries". September 2021.
8. ^ "Top universities in the Arab region".
9. ^ "New Permanent Observer of the League of Arab States presents credentials".
10. ^ "The Arab League: Purpose, History, and Facts".
11. ^ "Top 200 Universities in Arabic-speaking countries".
12. ^ "Top 200 Universities in Arabic-speaking countries".
13. ^ "Arabic Speaking Countries". 6 July 2018.
14. ^ "Qatar, Mauritania cut ties with Israel". BayBak. 2009-01-17. Archived from the original on 2017-02-19. Retrieved 2012-06-23.
15. ^ "Times Higher Education Awards Arab World 2024: winners announced". Times Higher Education (THE). 2024-12-05. Retrieved 2025-01-10.
16. ^ a b الحسام, مصطفى. "العلاقات العربية – اليابانية " النشأة والجذور " 1868م- 1945م". عرب جورنال (in Arabic).
17. ^ "السياسة الخارجية اليابانية تجاه المنطقة العربية مستقلة" [Japanese foreign policy towards the Arab region is independent]. صحيفة الخليج (in Arabic).
18. ^ "Arabic Speaking Countries". 6 July 2018.
19. ^ "Arab League | History, Purpose, Members, & Achievements | Britannica".
20. ^ "Top 200 Universities in Arabic-speaking countries".
21. ^ League of Arab States Archived 2007-09-30 at the Wayback Machine(Arabic)
22. ^ Whitaker, Brian (28 February 2002). "EU takes initiative on Saudi peace plan". The Guardian. London.
23. ^ "Summary of remarks by Javier SOLANA, EU High Representative for CFSP, at the 19th Arab League Summit. Riyadh, 28 March 2007" (PDF). Council of the European Union. Retrieved 2007-10-30.
24. ^ Witschge, Loes. "Timeline: Arab immigration into Europe". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2025-01-10.
25. ^ "Europe's Growing Muslim Population". Pew Research Center. 2017-11-29. Retrieved 2022-03-29.
26. ^ "Top 200 Universities in the Arabic-speaking world".
27. ^ "Arabic Speaking Countries". 6 July 2018.
28. ^ "Arab Countries". WorldAtlas. 2021-09-01. Retrieved 2025-01-10.
29. ^ "Top 200 Universities in Arabic-speaking countries".
30. ^ "Eritrea president: We will not join the Arab league, no tensions with Yemen". Archived from the original on 2010-03-31. Retrieved 2010-02-13.
31. ^ "Arabic Speaking Countries". 6 July 2018.
32. ^ "New centre to boost Middle East-Latin America investments". Thaindian News. Thaindian.com Company Limited. 23 February 2008. Archived from the original on 11 September 2015. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
33. ^ https://www.worldatlas. com/geography/arab-countries.html
34. ^ "Top 200 Universities in Arabic-speaking countries".
35. ^ "Arabic Speaking Countries". 6 July 2018.
36. ^ "L'influence des BRIC en Méditerranée", by Sébastien Abis, Mediterranean Yearbook 2010, Barcelona: Institut Europeu de la Mediterrània, 2011.
37. ^ "Quiénes son los Árabes? Breve perfil sociológico e histórico", by Abdelmalik Hamza, Alif Nun No. 76, November 2009, Madrid: Kálamo Libros, 2009. In Spanish
38. ^ "Uniranks 2024 - Top University Rankings in Arab World".
39. ^ "Top 200 Universities in Arabic-speaking countries".
40. ^ "The Arab League, on the International Democracy Watch website". Archived from the original on 2011-08-18. Retrieved 2011-05-23.
41. ^ "7 facts you probably don't know about the Arab League". 24 August 2016.
42. ^ "The Arab League: Fact sheet".
43. ^ "Facts about Arabs and the Arab World - ADC". 29 November 2009.

* "What Caused Ancient Egypt's Decline?". 8 June 2023.
* "Embassy of India, Cairo, Egypt: INDIA - ARAB LEAGUE RELATIONS".
* "Frequently Asked Questions". Digital Giza.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website
* Official website

* v
* t
* e

Foreign relations of the Arab League

League relations|

* China
* Egypt
* Eritrea
* European Union
* Iran
* Israel
* Japan
* Latin America
* Pakistan
* Sudan
* Turkey
* United States

Member relations|

* Algeria
* Bahrain
* Comoros
* Djibouti
* Egypt
* Iraq
* Jordan
* Kuwait
* Lebanon
* Libya
* Mauritania
* Morocco
* Oman
* Palestine
* Qatar
* Saudi Arabia
* Somalia
* Sudan
* Syria
* Tunisia
* United Arab Emirates
* Yemen

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