By: Julius Konton
The 165th Ordinary Session of the Council of the League of Arab States at the ministerial level resumed on Monday in the Jordanian capital, Amman, bringing together foreign ministers from the 22-member regional bloc to deliberate on some of the Middle East’s most pressing political, security, and economic challenges.
Morocco is actively participating in the high-level meeting, represented by a delegation led by Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, alongside senior diplomats and officials, underscoring Rabat’s continued commitment to Arab unity and regional diplomacy.
The Moroccan delegation includes Ambassador to Egypt and Permanent Representative to the Arab League Mohamed Aït Ouali, Ambassador to Jordan Fouad Akhrif, Director of Maghreb, Arab and Islamic Affairs Khalid Bencheikh, and Deputy Permanent Representative to the Arab League Hicham Ould Essalay.
The resumed proceedings follow the first phase of the 165th session held virtually on March 29 under Bahrain’s rotating presidency.
The Arab League, founded in 1945 in Cairo, remains one of the world’s oldest regional organizations, established to promote political coordination, economic cooperation, and collective security among Arab nations.
Today, the bloc represents over 460 million people across North Africa and the Middle East, with a combined GDP estimated at over US$3.6 trillion.
This latest ministerial gathering comes at a critical time for the Arab world, as the region continues to grapple with multiple crises from the ongoing Gaza conflict and political instability in Sudan and Libya, to economic pressures exacerbated by inflation, debt, and food insecurity.
Diplomatic sources say ministers are expected to review several urgent regional files, including developments in Palestine, Syria, Yemen, Lebanon, and the Horn of Africa, while exploring ways to strengthen joint Arab action and coordinate unified diplomatic positions.
A major item on the agenda is the anticipated endorsement of former Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy as the next Secretary-General of the Arab League.
Fahmy, a veteran diplomat and former ambassador to the United States, is expected to officially assume office in July, succeeding Ahmed Aboul Gheit, who has served since 2016.
The Secretary-General role remains central to the League’s institutional effectiveness, particularly at a time when inter-Arab cooperation has become increasingly vital amid rising geopolitical fragmentation.
Ahead of the formal session, Jordanian Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Ayman Safadi convened a closed-door consultative meeting with his Arab counterparts to align positions on sensitive regional issues and enhance diplomatic coordination.
Analysts say the Amman session could shape the Arab world’s collective response to regional security concerns and redefine strategic priorities in an era marked by shifting alliances and global uncertainty.
For Morocco, the meeting offers another platform to reinforce its diplomatic influence within the Arab world, building on its growing regional role in mediation, economic partnerships, and South-South cooperation.
