The Arab League voted to reinstate Syria’s membership after its suspension more than 10 years ago
What Is The Arab League?
Arab League on Syria
- The decision was taken at a closed-door meeting, attended by foreign ministers from 13 out of 22 member states of the organisation, held in Cairo, Egypt.
- The decision said Syria could resume its participation in Arab League meetings immediately
- Including the flight of refugees to neighbouring countries and drug smuggling across the region.
- Arab states including the United Arab Emirates have pushed for Syria and Assad’s rehabilitation
- Others, including Qatar, have remained opposed to full normalisation without a political solution to the Syrian conflict.
Why was Syria Ousted From The Arab League?
- Syria was ousted from the Arab League in 2011 following President Bashar al-Assad’s brutal crackdown on pro-democracy protests, which led to the ongoing civil war in the country.
- Several Gulf states including Saudi Arabia began backing rebel groups fighting to oust Assad from power.
- Assad later regained control over much of Syria with the help of his main allies Iran and Russia, but the war cost hundreds of thousands of lives and led millions to flee the country.
- Syria remains splintered with its economy in ruins.
Reinstation Of Syria In The Arab League
- The Arab League’s decision is the culmination of Assad’s diplomatic efforts to return to the fold, which gained momentum after this February’s massive earthquake in Turkey and Syria.
- Assad has received a favourable response from several Arab nations like Egypt and Oman not just because they wanted to help the earthquake victims.
- Experts believe these countries have realised they need to end Damascus’ isolation for the stability of West Asia.
- Moreover, they want some sort of repatriation of refugees back into Syria
- The international community outside of the region – Russia aside – has largely washed its hands of responsibility for Syria. There is a vacuum and this is where the regional powers have come in.
- Another catalyst in Syria’s rehabilitation is the China-brokered re-establishment of diplomatic relations between regional powerhouse Saudi Arabia and its archenemy, Iran.
- A committee involving Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Jordan, and Iraq will be established to help Syria achieve these goals.
- But the decision does not mean a resumption of relationships between Arab states and Syria as it is up to each country to decide this individually.
- It calls for a resolution of the crisis resulting from Syria’s civil war, including the flight of refugees to neighboring countries and drug smuggling across the region.
India And The Arab League
- Being conferred observer status in 2007, India was the first member to enter the League although it does not have an Arab community, neither does it have an indigenous Arabic-speaking population.
- Trade between India and Arab League members was valued at US$30 billion in 2007.
- India’s major exports to Arab League countries are chemicals, automobiles, machinery, foodstuff and other fast-moving products, while it is a large importer of Arab oil and gas.
- India also has a large diaspora in the Arab League countries of about 15 million, of which some 20% are professionals.
- Oman and India enjoy particularly good relations, an example being; both countries exchange ship visits on a regular basis
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