Philia Forum must be more than a talking shop

The supra-regional meeting between Foreign Ministers of East Med and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries in Athens was a media success.

In a joint declaration of Greece, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, Cyprus, France and Egypt, all committed to establish a framework to discuss common interests and concerns related to sovereignty, territorial integrity, noninterference and freedom of navigation.

The participants explicitly referred to International Law, UN Security Council Resolutions and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

In a very diplomatic way, all participants, including France, reiterated that they are willing to put in place resultoriented exchanges, joint actions and initiatives in the fields of energy, innovation, digital economy and civil protection.

Such diplomatic talk only slightly hides the real underlying concern that the parties have been focusing on.

Leaving out the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, economic crisis scenarios or intercultural exchanges from the conundrum, the main issues the Forum have to focus on in reality are the increased regional and international external factors these actors are facing.

While looking at the main line-up of parties involved, the East Med crisis with Turkey, the partly unfinished Qatar crisis or the clear and present danger to regional maritime waters (East Med, Suez Canal and Red Sea), are the main building blocks for the Philia Forum set up.

Arguably, the East Med Gas Forum, officially an energy get-together, but increasingly a security related organization, and the Saudi-Egyptian led Red Sea Alliance, targeting maritime security issues too, are the real building blocks for future success.

The new Philia Forum is bringing sides to the table to discuss the ones that were left out, Turkey, Qatar.

An increased supra-regional cooperation, based on economic, political and security cooperation is the right approach, as all parties involved are refocusing their PostCorona strategies on further expanding maritime logistics and energy integration.

To really make this a functional approach, Israel should have been included officially, as without integrating Israeli maritime and security issues in the overall approach, the Forum’s legs are wobbly.

As Israel is part of the EMGF, and is setting up full integration with the Abraham Agreement’s Arab GCC counterparts, its role is clear and pivotal.

Saudi objections are known, but reality on the ground is already much deeper than what has been scratching the media surface.

Two main pillars or legs of the Philia Forum need to be addressed in the open to make it a new Bridge, not only to Africa but between EU-NATO and the Arab World.

By combining security and energy, based on maritime and economical aspects, a functional approach is possible.

Discussions need to be clear, and functional, not focusing on a too many issues.

For all parties, even including Israel, Jordan or even other GCC members, the first steps need to be rational, linked to existing frameworks, geopolitical realities and possibly even existing economic links.

The involvement of GCC countries in the respective economies of Egypt, Greece and Cyprus is already a building block.

This could even lead to an involvement of Qatar, if other issues are solved, as Doha is already investing in Greece, Egypt and offshore East Med.

To stay mainly a discussion forum is just for the media, real action needs to be taken otherwise it is just another one on the list.

To address encroaching global powers, especially China and Russia, should also be taken into account.

Freedom of Navigation is at play, as China is increasingly interested in setting up shop in East Med or Red Sea ports.

Russia’s military engagement is already a concern for most, so action is clear to most.

European or NATO cooperation will be necessary too, as several parties are member states of the latter.

Emphasis should also be put on integrating not only France, but additionally Italy and the UK.

A first step has been taken right now, sending signals to the perceived adversaries. Now action needs to strengthen the legs of the Forum too.