Since the time of the Pharaonic dynasties, Egypt believed that the first line of defense geographically began in the Alexandretta district in northwestern Syria, followed directly by the Straits line in central Sinai. This cohesion between Egypt and Syria remained solid until the fifties of the last century, which witnessed the unity between the two countries, in which the armed forces in Syria became the first field army, and the Egyptian armed forces became the second and third field armies. Later, the two countries fought all their wars together, to form a historically and geographically solid relationship. In “the Arab Spring”, this established relationship saw dissonance.
No one can deny that there is a great satisfaction in what is currently happening in terms of restoring Syria to its Arab embrace. It is true that achieving progress in the political settlement process in Syria requires efforts from all concerned parties, including the Syrian government, the opposition, supporting countries, and regional and international actors. Among the steps that can be taken to achieve progress in this regard is that the countries supporting the parties to the conflict in Syria must provide the necessary support for the political settlement efforts, by stimulating negotiations and providing logistical and financial support. Also, improving the humanitarian situation by providing humanitarian aid and improving the living conditions of the Syrian people is important, in addition to strengthening the role of civil institutions and promoting political and societal dialogue.
Achieving progress in the political settlement process in Syria requires serious and real efforts from all concerned parties, and we must work in a spirit of responsibility and cooperation in order to restore stability and peace in Syria.
Although the civil war in Syria officially ended in 2020, the situation in the country remains difficult and complex. Different Syrian regions are currently witnessing different levels of stability and security, and there are still major problems related to the economy and basic services such as water, electricity, health, and education.
It is not possible to accurately ascertain the possible effects of Syria’s return to the Arab League on the Syrian crisis, as the political and security situation in Syria is still complex and constantly changing. Until now, there are still big differences between the Arab countries regarding the situation in Syria. The Syrian return to the “Arab embrace” will greatly contribute to achieving internal stability, reaching political and diplomatic solutions with other Arab and regional countries, and strengthening dialogue and understanding between them. However, this issue is related to the political and diplomatic decisions of the Arab countries, which may be affected by many factors, including the Syrian crisis and its ongoing developments.
Dr. Hatem Sadek: Professor at Helwan University
