Jamal Khashoggi
The closing ceremony of Ra’ad Al Shamal military manoeuvres last Thursday created majestic view on the desert sands of the northern part of Saudi Arabic. The exercises in which troops from twenty countries participated was also a rare moment that gathered leaders of the participating countries around the Saudi King Salman.
The exciting view, the sound of cannons, and the roar of tanks and warplanes have made observers wonder and imagine the features of war and peace in the region. However we will be in no hurry because Saudi Arabia is not a country known for adventures but for decisive actions.
Some observers considered the manoeuvres to be a hurried gathering of ‘Islamic alliance troops’ preparing for intervention in Syria, while some others considered them to be a basis for a permanent Islamic army. A third group of observers linked these manoeuvres with the alliance forces in Yemen but the official statement issued by Saudi Arabia’s chief of staff, General Abdulrahman Al Bunyan commander of the exercise pointed out that the exercise was aimed at boosting the unity of ranks, warding off the dangers facing Arab and Islamic nations, maintaining security and stability, and raising the levels of combat readiness.
So it was a chance to bring together troops from Islamic countries with different military doctrines for the first time in one place, and this in itself is a great achievement. It could be the starting point for establishment of an Islamic “Nato”. However it is mistake to say the alliance is already fully formed, as there are many things that need to be done before reaching this point. Managing to bring Egypt together with Turkey in one place for around one month, despite their political differences, has the ability to bring them together again.
As we are living in the Middle East region, where some states have collapsed and some have risen from oppression, perhaps we may witness events that unite these countries faster than expected. General Al Bunyan talked about “regular and irregular wars” of which we have many in process, and some others which may take place in future. Such drills could also take place for fighting Da’esh where Saudi Arabia, UAE and Turkey emphasized their readiness to intervene in Syria if a suitable situation was created.
Some analysts thought that the drill was to protect Saudi Arabia, the land of the two holy mosques, making it deserve the support of all Muslims. Saudi is leading the region with noble aims.
The movement generated by the Kingdom actually has three motives and all of them are politically and morally right. The first motive is ending the prevailing chaos in some the region’s countries.
The second is to defeat Da’esh, not just preventing it from expansion in the region, because it is not worthy of existence whether as an ideology or as a state. Muslims are the first to fight Da’esh because its practices and ideology contradict their faith.
The final motive is that no one wants to be involved in fighting against Iran, including the Kingdom, but no one also wants to see Iran pursuing its ambitious aims in the region.
Perhaps the military manoeuvre in north Saudi, a few miles away from the Iraqi southern border (which unfortunately is dominated by Iran) could be a deterrent and end Iran’s adventures.
The principle of “preparation for war to restore peace” has sent a message to Tehran. The Saudi Foreign Minister Adil Al Jubeir did well when he announced prior to the manoeuvres that “Iran is a neighbouring Muslim state which has long history and civilisation, and Iranians are friendly people but the policy adopted by Iran after Khomeini’s revolution is hostile”. It is another Saudi message to Iran which may help in reducing the roars of cannons.
Ra’ad Al Shamal is one component of four of Saudi’s modern policies collectively known as “Saudi decisive policy”. One of these components is the Arab-Gulf Alliance fight in Yemen to restore the legitimate government and end the situation created by the coup of the Houthis and former president Saleh, under the sponsorship of Iran.
The second is the Islamic alliance for fighting terrorism, and officially announced by Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman last December.
The alliance which is going to hold its first meeting this month, is a kind of ‘operations coordination room’ to support and coordinate a war against terror in all Islamic states. Each of the member countries will contribute to the efforts of the war, in accordance with their capacities. The third component can be called ‘the Syria operation’, which overlaps with the existing alliance against Da’esh which includes many Western countries.
The last meeting of this alliance was held in Brussels last February. Saudi is the main partner of this alliance but its agenda goes beyond fighting Da’esh to toppling Bashar Al Assad and expelling Iran from Syria, to enable Syrians to enjoy freedom.
Saudi believes that Bashar’s regime and Iran are the main cause for the appearance of Da’esh.
The fourth component of this policy, are the Ra’ad Al Shamal manoeuvres. But it is not yet clear whether some of the troops will remain permanently there for any possible developments or not!
Setting up the policy of decisiveness in four pillars has helped Saudi to use its relations and its leadership position amongst Islamic countries to bring together different forms of governments and trends. The good news about this policy is the recent truce with Houthis in the border area with Yemen and this may lead to a comprehensive peace process.
The launch of peace talks in Geneva may bring peace and a transition of power in Syria, if associated with diplomatic pressures, in the light of the agreement made between the US and Russia to impose a ceasefire.
From here, Haf Al Batin in north Saudi Arabia, where the manoeuvre took place I would like to express my optimism and say there is a light of peace at the end of the tunnel- through the smoke of cannons and roar of tanks there is a chance for a just peace.
The writer is a Saudi Arabian journalist, columnist, author and the General Manager and Editor-in-Chief of Al Arab News Channel.
