Former Arab League chief urges Cairo and Riyadh to act on regional risks

Former Arab League secretary-general Amr Moussa warned on Thursday that recent regional developments pose a strategic threat to Arab security, urging Egypt and Saudi Arabia to treat the situation with the utmost seriousness.

Speaking at a symposium organised by the Boutros Boutros-Ghali Foundation for Peace, Moussa said the unfolding situation in the region should not be viewed as marginal, but rather as a direct and growing danger to Arab national security.

He pointed in particular to Israel’s approach towards the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, calling it a highly dangerous development for the security of the Red Sea. Moussa recalled that Egypt had taken a strategic decision to close the strait during the October 1973 war, underlining its decisive role in shaping the regional balance of power.

Moussa said that issuing warning statements alone was no longer sufficient and described the current situation as a “wake-up call” for Egypt and Saudi Arabia. He warned that instability stretching from Sudan to Ethiopia and across the Horn of Africa represents a worrying trajectory that conflicts with Arab interests and the requirements of regional stability.

He concluded by calling for a coordinated Arab response based on a comprehensive strategic vision and effective cooperation among Arab states, stressing that the current phase leaves no room for hesitation or division, but instead demands unity and decisive action to confront the intertwined challenges threatening the region’s security.

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