Arab foreign ministers meet in Baghdad to prep for an upcoming crucial, but messy Arab League summit

Arab foreign ministers gathered in Baghdad on Thursday for a preparatory meeting ahead of the 34th Arab League Summit, scheduled for Saturday in the Iraqi capital. Delegates are reviewing the summit agenda and drafting key resolutions to be presented to Arab heads of state and government, with Israel's war on Gaza, post-Assad Syria's fate, and reconstruction of Lebanon topping the agenda.

Ministers from Jordan, Egypt, Yemen, Bahrain, Somalia, Palestine, Sudan and Comoros attended, along with Qatar's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and representatives from several other Arab states.

The session opened with remarks by Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif Al Zayani, who outlined the outcomes of the 33rd Arab Summit held perviously in Manama on 16 May 2024. He formally handed over the rotating presidency of the Council of Arab Foreign Ministers to Iraq's Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein.

In his address, Hussein reaffirmed Iraq's commitment to Syria's stability and described Palestine as "our central cause". Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit followed with strong criticism of Israel's regional policies, warning that "the occupation's ambitions are not limited to Palestine, but extend to Syria and Lebanon".

A closed-door working session followed, during which ministers discussed draft resolutions and strategic policy papers. According to Iraqi Foreign Ministry sources, Israel's ongoing war on Gaza and post-Assad Syria are expected to feature prominently in the summit's final communiqué.

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said afterward the meeting's conclusion, "Our meeting today comes at a sensitive stage in the history of the Arab nation that requires unifying our efforts."

A senior official in the Iraqi Foreign Ministry told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that there is Arab consensus regarding the issue of Israel's war and acts of genocide in Palestine, as well as its continued crimes in Lebanon and Syria. He added that a unanimously approved Arab resolution will support the Syrian state, reject interference in its internal affairs, and welcome steps that support the new administration. He confirmed that the issues of Yemen, Sudan, and Libya will also be part of the summit's agenda.

Despite Baghdad's push for high-level participation, attendance by some Arab leaders remains uncertain. While Gulf states would be represented at a senior level, some other countries have opted to send lower-ranking delegations due to political sensitivities and regional dynamics.

Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa is also not expected to attend.  His decision follows domestic political backlash in Iraq, particularly from Iran-aligned factions, over his formal invitation.

Speaking to state media, Iraqi government spokesperson Basem Al-Awadi said the summit's level of participation would be "honourable and befitting of Iraq". 

In addition to the 22 member states, around 20 Arab regional organisations will participate in the summit, alongside international guests, including UN Secretary-General António Guterres and the Secretary-General of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Hissein Brahim Taha. Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is due to attend as a guest of honour.

Al-Awadi said the ministers discussed the implementation of previous summit resolutions, a report on inter-Arab cooperation from the League's Secretary-General, and a range of new policy proposals.

The agenda includes five items on Palestine and the broader Arab-Israeli conflict, alongside 11 points related to Arab affairs and regional security. Other topics include climate change and Arab collective defence.  

Al-Awadi confirmed that the foreign ministers endorsed five key Iraqi initiatives, which will be submitted for ratification by the summit's leaders. 

These include the creation of an Arab Centre for Counter-Terrorism; an Arab Centre for Combating Drugs; an Arab Centre for Countering Transnational Organised Crime; a Joint Arab Security Coordination Cell; and an Arab Fund to support recovery and reconstruction efforts in crisis-affected states.

The ministers also held a closed consultative meeting ahead of the formal session to coordinate positions on contentious issues, particularly developments in Palestine and broader regional dynamics. The meeting aimed to build consensus and facilitate the adoption of unified decisions by the heads of state.

Additionally, the Committee for Monitoring Implementation of Arab Summit Resolutions held a session chaired by Bahrain to review and adopt its report on progress since the 33rd summit.

Hussein said the summit will be followed by a tripartite meeting between the leaders of Iraq, Egypt and Jordan to discuss economic and security cooperation. 

Two sessions are planned for Saturday: a political session in the morning, and the fifth Arab Development Summit in the afternoon. Proceedings are expected to conclude with the Baghdad Declaration, which is set to call for an immediate halt to Israel's war on Gaza.

"This summit is taking place under exceptional circumstances," Hussein said. "The presence of Arab leaders affirms a shared commitment to unity, development, and reaffirming Baghdad's leadership role in the region."

This will be the third Arab summit hosted by Baghdad. The first was in 1990, which saw sharp disagreements between Iraq and several Gulf countries, two months before the Gulf crisis and the invasion of Kuwait. The second summit was held in 2012 during Nouri Al-Maliki’s second term, with weak Arab representation in protest of his sectarian policies. The third will be held tomorrow, Saturday, 17 May.

With regional tensions high and public attention fixed on Gaza, Iraq is hoping the summit will mark not only a diplomatic milestone, but also a reassertion of Baghdad's influence within the Arab world.