Arab and Islamic Leaders Convene in Doha but Struggle to Convert Rhetoric into Action

Political leaders from the Arab League and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation assembled in Qatar’s capital following last week’s Israeli military action targeting Hamas leadership within the emirate. The gathering represented an attempt to demonstrate regional solidarity with Qatar while addressing the broader Middle Eastern security situation.

The summit concluded with extensive written declarations condemning Israeli actions and expressing unified support for Qatar’s position. However, the final communique notably lacked any specific measures or actionable policies that participating nations would implement to address the ongoing conflict.
This outcome highlighted a persistent challenge facing wealthy Middle Eastern nations: their substantial economic resources have not translated into proportional geopolitical influence or effective policy coordination.

Historical Context and Changing Dynamics

The current diplomatic impasse contrasts sharply with Arab nations’ responses during previous regional crises. In October 1973, the Organisation of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries demonstrated significant leverage when ministers convened in Kuwait during the Arab-Israeli conflict.

During that pivotal moment, OAPEC leadership, spearheaded by Saudi Arabia, implemented production cuts and export restrictions targeting the United States and other nations supporting Israel’s military campaign. This coordinated economic response contributed to the global oil embargo that subsequently pushed Western economies toward recession.

The 1973 war, initiated through coordinated Egyptian and Syrian operations against Israeli positions in the Sinai Peninsula and Golan Heights, concluded after 19 days of fighting. OAPEC’s strategic use of oil resources as a diplomatic weapon played a demonstrable role in accelerating ceasefire negotiations.

Contemporary Limitations and Dependencies

Today’s geopolitical landscape presents markedly different circumstances for Arab nations seeking to influence regional outcomes. Despite Gaza’s escalating casualty figures approaching 65,000, with women and children comprising the majority of victims, and international bodies determining potential genocidal actions, many previously influential Arab states remain largely inactive.

Rami Khouri, a seasoned analyst at the American University of Beirut, explains that “Arab governments in the past century have not achieved full sovereignty,” noting their continued reliance on external powers for security, economic stability, and political survival.

This dependency paradox becomes evident in Qatar’s relationship with the United States. Despite hosting the largest American air base in the Middle East and receiving designation as a Major Non-NATO Ally in 2022, Qatar’s enhanced partnership status has not translated into increased regional influence or policy autonomy.

Diplomatic Strategies and Realistic Expectations

Current Arab leadership approaches primarily involve appealing to American officials to exercise influence over Israeli decision-making. Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary General Jasem Mohamed al-Budaiwi, quoted in Dubai’s state-controlled Al Bayan newspaper, expressed expectations that “strategic partners in the United States” would utilize their leverage to modify Israeli policies.

These diplomatic strategies reflect a supplicant relationship where regional leaders depend on unpredictable American presidential intervention rather than developing independent policy mechanisms. Al-Budaiwi emphasized that the United States “has leverage and influence on Israel, and it’s about time this leverage and influence be used.”
However, such expectations appear increasingly disconnected from political realities. Recent presidential statements, including Trump’s August declaration that Gaza operations are “up to Israel,” suggest limited American willingness to constrain Israeli military activities.

Summit Outcomes and Continuing Challenges

The Doha gathering’s ineffectiveness became apparent when Israeli forces announced renewed ground operations in Gaza City shortly after the summit concluded. The comprehensive condemnations and solidarity declarations produced no discernible impact on military activities or diplomatic progress.

This pattern reflects broader structural challenges facing contemporary Arab diplomacy. Despite significant economic development in nations like Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, their foreign policy capabilities remain constrained by security dependencies and limited independent leverage.

The summit’s failure to produce actionable responses underscores the gap between regional wealth accumulation and effective political influence. While Arab nations have achieved remarkable economic transformation over recent decades, translating financial resources into diplomatic outcomes continues presenting substantial challenges.
These limitations suggest that future regional crises may similarly produce extensive rhetorical responses without corresponding policy implementations, unless fundamental changes occur in how Arab nations approach collective decision-making and international engagement strategies.