Trump should help to create a pan-Arab NATO

At the end of this week, it’s difficult to know quite where to begin with events in Washington. Suffice it to say, we agree with the decision to appoint special counsel to investigate the allegations of inappropriate connections between President Donald Trump’s campaign for that office and Russian officials. We are not convinced that there is any fire to be found amid all the smoke, but Trump’s own erratic actions have certainly raised questions that demand answers. Former FBI director Robert Mueller is a promising choice to serve as special counsel.

While Mueller undert akes his i nvestigation, Trump continues to command one of the most important posts in the world. And there remains important business to be done. A key item on Trump’s agenda is reportedly set to be announced in t he coming days. It will require his full attention, and deserves the world’s.

Trump is about to begin his first international trip abroad as president. Ahead of a NATO summit in Belgium, Trump will make stops in the Middle East, including in Israel and Saudi Arabia. While in Saudi Arabia, Trump is expected to unveil a plan — developed over recent months during quiet negotiations with Saudi officials — to establish a pan- Arab collective security alliance along the lines of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

The deal still needs more work, so the announcement would be a framework, not a treaty set for signing. But the plan, as reported by numerous outlets, would begin to bring the Middle East’s Sunni Arab nations into a collective defence alliance that would not include the U. S. directly, but would be favoured and supported by it. Indeed, some reports have noted that Israel (despite not being recognized by some nations as likely to join the alliance) will be a quiet partner, sharing i ntelligence with its neighbours over matters of mutual concern.

And those matters are serious. A strong Sunni Arab alliance — supported by the U. S. and Israel — would be a stabilizing force in a region in chaos. Committed Arab partners coupled with American military technology and Israeli intelligence would be a nightmare scenario for the Islamic State ( among others), and could serve as an effective bulwark against the next terrorist organization to rise. Iran is a threat to the West, Israel and many Arab states, and would also be partially countered by a properly-equipped military alliance. An American- backed Arab alliance might also thwart Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ambitions in the Middle East, without directly incurring much risk.

The idea is not without drawbacks. Even though Israel is reportedly set to play a supporting role, it will remember well that Arab nations — when allied — have a history of invading it. They will likely welcome the alliance in the short term while remaining carefully watchful in the long. The Arab states have also traditionally not played together particularly well, and many of them are facing serious internal economic and social issues that would not be addressed by an arms buildup and new treaty. Iran and Russia would, of course, seek to undermine the new alliance precisely because it would oppose their ambitions. And given the turmoil in the U.S ., allies would have cause to question its commitment.

And, of course, there is this awkward fact: many of the Arab states remain countries with which we would, in a perfect world, prefer not to do business. Saudi Arabia, in particular, has an abysmal human rights record that hardly needs recapping here. American backing of these states further implicates the U.S .( and its Western allies generally, including Canada) in the misdeeds of these regimes.

But the West must be realistic and not let perfection be the enemy of the good. NATO has been a force for unity and stability in Europe for generations. The Arab world would certainly benefit from an alliance built on that model. It would reduce dependence on U.S. security guarantees, help contain Iran, and deny those seeking to exploit weakness and division easy opportunities for growth. An Arab NATO would be a difficult project to bring about, but it’s worth trying. We sincerely wish the president — or any future successor — well in seeking its earliest implementation.

THE WEST MUST BE REALISTIC AND NOT LET PERFECTION BE THE ENEMY OF THE GOOD.