Ambassador Hossam Zaki, speaking at the Sarajevo Security Conference, stressed that the current international transformations require a renewed approach to the concept of European-Arab security, calling for a shift from crisis management to crisis prevention and addressing the political roots of conflicts.
Zaki said Europe is undergoing a profound reassessment of its security concept since the end of the Cold War, particularly in light of the war in Ukraine and growing attention to deterrence, defence spending and strategic autonomy. However, he warned against Europe looking at the East through a strategic lens while viewing the South primarily through a defensive approach focused on migration, terrorism and energy.
He stressed that the Arab world is not merely Europe’s “southern flank,” but a neighbour and partner sharing the same increasingly interconnected strategic space. The crises in Gaza, Sudan and Libya, tensions in the Red Sea and the Gulf, as well as terrorism, organised crime, cyber threats and climate change, all demonstrate the growing interdependence between European and Arab security.
Addressing the Palestinian issue, Zaki described Gaza as the clearest example of the dangers of treating political conflicts primarily as security problems. Humanitarian assistance, reconstruction and security arrangements are essential, he said, but they cannot replace a lasting political solution.
He stressed the need for Palestinians to regain their political rights, dignity and independence, while ensuring sustainable security for Israelis. The two-state solution, he argued, now requires genuine international political will to create the conditions necessary for its implementation.
Zaki also addressed other Arab crises, particularly in Sudan, Libya, Syria and Lebanon, as well as the future of relations between Iran and the Arab states. At the same time, he cautioned against viewing the Arab world solely through the lens of its crises, pointing to the growing economic, political and diplomatic influence of Arab states and their increasing efforts to diversify their international partnerships and pursue a more pragmatic regional diplomacy.
He called for the establishment of a genuine European-Arab security partnership based on regular strategic dialogue, conflict prevention and mediation, as well as enhanced cooperation in maritime security, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, critical infrastructure protection, combating disinformation and organised crime, and addressing the security implications of climate change.
Zaki stressed that the Mediterranean and the Red Sea should not be viewed as separate strategic theatres, but rather as part of an interconnected security and economic space, given the growing links between energy, trade, freedom of navigation and communications infrastructure.
He concluded by stressing that strategic partnership does not mean agreement on every issue, but rather the ability to manage differences while preserving common interests. He called for a shift away from viewing the Mediterranean as a dividing line between two security spaces and towards seeing it as a centre connecting a single strategic space shared by Europe and the Arab world.
TunisianMonitorNews (By Bassam Bani Ahmed)
