By all accounts, the 34th Arab League Summit held in Baghdad should have been a symbol of unity, a platform to reignite Arab collective strength in the face of mounting internal crises and external transformations. Instead, it was a sobering reminder of the disintegration of Arab political coherence and the widening gap between traditional statecraft and the new forces shaping global power.

To fully grasp the weight of the moment, one must set aside, momentarily, the sheer magnitude of the American presidency – a role with the terrifying potential to end civilizations at the push of a button or send financial markets crashing with the stroke of a pen. More critical, especially for the Arab world, are two fundamental truths that speak louder than diplomatic communiqués and ceremonial gatherings.

At the heart of this truth lies a simple but uncomfortable fact: the Arab region is no longer animated by a common vision. Gone is the pan-Arab spirit that once galvanized revolutions, diplomatic initiatives, and dreams of unity. Today, beneath the scripted declarations of brotherhood and solidarity lies a deep-seated skepticism, even among close neighbors. A number of Arab governments no longer place hope in collective Arab action. Some have quietly discarded the very concept of a unified Arab identity – a foundational tenet that once drove the formation of the Arab League itself.

This erosion of trust manifests in the low-profile representation at the Baghdad summit and the ritualized nature of such events. Chronic crises remain unresolved. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict rages on without a coherent Arab response. Iranian influence continues unchecked across Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen. Libya descends........

© Blitz