Vikrant Shekhawat : Oct 30, 2024, 06:20 PM
Islamic NATO: NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization), formed in 1949, is a military alliance of 32 countries, which aims to strengthen the security of member countries. On the same lines, a proposal for a "Muslim NATO" is now being raised, in which there is an idea of uniting 25 predominantly Muslim countries and forming an organized military front. This organization can be called "Muslim NATO" or "Muslim Military Alliance Organization" (MMAO). If this alliance comes into existence, it can be the second largest military organization in the world after NATO.Formation of Islamic Military AllianceThe purpose of this proposed alliance is to promote regional security and unite to deal with external threats. Currently, the Middle East and Gulf regions remain the center of political and military conflicts. Major Muslim countries, such as Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Malaysia and Jordan can potentially be the main members of this new Muslim NATO. Apart from these, Iran, Iraq, Oman, Qatar, Indonesia and many other countries are likely to join.The need and purpose of Muslim NATOTurkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has presented the idea of this proposed alliance. He believes that Muslim countries should unite to counter Israel and other external threats. Also, Erdogan has defined it as an Islamic defense structure. He believes that through such an alliance, Muslim-majority countries can further strengthen their collective security measures.Difference between previous efforts and current effortsEarlier in 2015, an alliance called Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC) was formed, in which 42 Muslim-majority countries joined to combat terrorism. However, the effect of IMCTC remained limited and it could not fully achieve its objectives.Potential impact on world politicsConflict with the US and NATO: The US and NATO countries have permanent military bases in the Middle East, which may be challenged by the existence of this new alliance. This new equation may create difficulties for the US as it has a significant contribution to the stability and security of the Middle East.Impact on India: The impact of this alliance may be limited for India, but it will be significant in some cases. The emergence of countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh and Turkey as a united military power may affect regional security and the Kashmir dispute. It is likely that Pakistan will try to garner more support through such an alliance, which may be a challenge for India.Can Muslim NATO become a reality?Analysts believe that it is difficult for countries with so many different political interests and viewpoints to unite and form an effective organization. Despite this, Erdogan's ambitions and the dream of a united Muslim power in the Middle East may keep this idea in discussion for a few years.