Overview

• Egypt is promoting a plan for a joint Arab defense force intended to protect any member state under attack, framing the concept on NATO-style collective security.
• Officials say the renewed drive is timed to the Arab-Islamic summit in Doha, using the gathering to seek traction for the initiative.
• Egypt is drafting an activation mechanism and suggests the force’s composition be based on each state’s population, military strength and regional political balances.
• Cairo wants to lead the force and envisions a supporting role for Saudi Arabia or another Gulf state, with a commander likely the Egyptian Chief of Staff or a general.
• Senior Egyptian sources acknowledge unresolved hurdles, including when the force would intervene and how it would be deployed, and no formal agreement has been announced.