US-Arab Middle East Strategic Alliance By 2018

Arab Islamic American Summit on Sunday is planning to establish the Middle East Strategic Alliance by 2018 with focus on their fight against terrorism, counter-piracy and also to protect the region’s waterways and ship routes.

The process of establishing the Riyadh-based Alliance with the participation of many nations will be completed by 2018, according to a communique, called “Riyadh Declaration”, adopted at the end of the summit in Riyadh, Saudi Gazette reported Monday.

The heads of state and leaders who attended the summit welcomed the readiness of some of the Muslim countries, which are part of the Saudi-led Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC).

The summit announced partnership among leaders of both sides in countering extremism and terrorism as well as in establishing peace and security in the region and the world.

The leaders pledged to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, root out deviant ideologies, drain their sources of funding and take all precautionary measures to prevent terror crimes.

The summit welcomed the creation of the Riyadh-based Global Center for Combating Extremist Ideology, and the efforts of the Arab and Islamic states in preventing terror attacks and exchange of vital information about foreign fighters and their association with terror groups.

The Declaration also highlighted the signing of cooperation agreement in fighting terror funding by establishing a center in Riyadh to target such funding.

The leaders also expressed their determination to counter sectarian agendas that are detrimental to the regional and global security, as well as intervention in the internal affairs of the countries in the region.

Expressing alarm over Iran’s ballistic missile programs, the leaders vowed their commitment to beef up efforts to maintain regional and global security and confront destructive and subversive activities of Iran.

The summit also emphasized the need to counter piracy and protect the region’s waterways and ship routes.