Islamic Military Alliance

Islamic Military Alliance to Fight Terrorism
التحالف الإسلامي العسكري لمحاربة الإرهاب

Map showing the original IMA members
Formation 15 December 2015
Founder Mohammad bin Salman Al Saud (Saudi Arabia)
Type Military alliance
Legal status Active
Purpose Anti-terrorism
Headquarters Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Location
Region
Islamic world
Membership
Official language
English, Arabic
Commander-in-Chief
 Raheel Sharif (Pakistan)

The Islamic Military Alliance (IMA), officially the Islamic Military Alliance to Fight Terrorism (IMAFT) (Arabic: التحالف الإسلامي العسكري لمحاربة الإرهاب‎‎), alternative translation Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition, is an intergovernmental counter-terrorist alliance of countries in the Muslim world, united around military intervention against ISIL and other counter-terrorist activities.[2][3] Its creation was first announced by Mohammad bin Salman Al Saud, Saudi Arabia's Minister of Defense, on 15 December 2015.[4][5] The alliance was to have a joint operations center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.[6]

When the coalition was announced there were 34 members. Additional countries joined and the number of members reached 41 when Oman joined in December 2016.[7] On 6 January 2017, Pakistan's former Chief of Army Staff, General (Retd.) Raheel Sharif was named the IMA's first Commander-in-Chief.[8][9]

History and objectives

The IMA has stated that its primary objective is to protect Muslim countries from all terrorist groups and terrorist organizations irrespective of their sect and name.[10][11][12] The IMA affirmed that it would operate in line with the United Nations and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) provisions on terrorism.[13]

At the press conference to launch the IMA, Mohammad bin Salman said it would "coordinate" efforts to fight terrorism in Iraq, Syria, Libya, Egypt and Afghanistan. He said, "There will be international coordination with major powers and international organisations ... in terms of operations in Syria and Iraq."[14]

To date, all members are countries with Sunni-dominated governments. The alliance does not include any countries with Shia-dominated governments, such as Iran, Iraq and Syria.[15] According to a Euronews report, some analysts see formation of the alliance as part of Saudi Arabian efforts to take the leading role in the Middle East and the Muslim world, in rivalry with Iran.[16]

In March 2016 it was reported that Saudi Arabia had asked General Raheel Sharif, Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff, to become commander-in-chief of the Islamic Military Alliance once he had retired from the Pakistan Army at the end of 2016.[17] In January 2017 it was reported that Sharif had set three conditions for taking the post, one of which was that Iran be included in the Islamic Military Alliance.[18] However he hadn't signed the contract yet.

Members

Saudi Arabia's original announcement of the alliance on 15 December 2015 listed 34 countries as participants,[2] each also a member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and forming about 60% of all OIC member states.

Country Membership announcement Military roleα Supporter References
 Afghanistan 18 October 2016 Yes Yes [19]
 Bahrain Original Yes Yes [20]
 Bangladesh Original Yes Yes [6][21][22]
 Benin Original N/A N/A
 Chad Original Yes Yes
 Comoros Original N/A N/A
 Cote d'Ivoire Original N/A N/A
 Djibouti Original N/A N/A
 Egypt Original Yes Yes [6]
 Eritrea 20 December 2015 Yes Yes [23][24]
 Gabon Original N/A N/A
 Guinea Original N/A N/A
 Jordan Original Yes Yes [6]
 Kuwait Original Yes Yes
 Lebanon Original N/A Yes
 Libya Original Yes Yes [25]
 Malaysia Original Yes Yes [26]
 Maldives Original N/A N/A
 Mali Original N/A N/A
 Mauritania Original Yes Yes
 Morocco Original Yes Yes
 Niger Original Yes Yes
 Nigeria Original Yes Yes [25]
 Oman 28 December 2016 Yes Yes [7][27]
 Pakistan Original Yes Yes [26][28][29][30][31]
 Palestine Original N/A N/A
 Qatar Original N/A N/A
 Saudi Arabia Original Yes Yes [32][33][14]
 Senegal Original N/A N/A
 Sierra Leone Original N/A N/A
 Somalia Original Yes Yes
 Sudan Original Yes Yes
 Togo Original N/A N/A
 Tunisia Original Yes Yes
 Turkey Original Yes Yes [25]
 United Arab Emirates Original Yes Yes
 Yemen Original Yes Yes
^α These countries have offered to provide military assistance if needed.

Prospective additional members

At the time of the original announcement, more than ten other Islamic countries, including Indonesia (the world's largest Muslim nation), had expressed their support for the alliance,[2] and Azerbaijan was discussing joining the alliance.[34][35][36] In January 2017 Azerbaijan said that joining was "not on the agenda".[37] Tajikistan's ambassador to Saudi Arabia confirmed that Tajikistan is seriously studying the possibility of joining.[38][39] The following countries have discussed membership, but have not joined the alliance as yet.

Country Status References
 Azerbaijan Pending [36]
 Indonesia Pending [35]
 Tajikistan Pending [38][39]

Commanders-in-Chief

Force commander Nationality Start of tenure End of tenure
General Raheel Sharif  Pakistan 6 January 2017 Incumbent

Raheel Sharif as Commander-in-Chief is appointed to head a Saudi-led alliance of Muslim countries.[40][41]

Military strength

Pakistan

Pakistan Armed Forces has about 1.5 million military personnel with 643,000+ active army personnel with 3,000 main battle tanks, an air force with 1,032 aircraft, and a navy with 63 surface ships, 101 aircraft, and 8 submarines.[42] It has the sixth largest standing armed forces in the world and largest armed forces in the Muslim world. Pakistan is the only member in the alliance with nuclear weapons.

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia has one of the best-funded defence forces in the Middle East. The kingdom spends 25% of its budget, or about $88 billion,[43] on its military. In terms of manpower, Saudi Arabia has about 688,000 active personnel in its military, with 300,000 army troops.[44] It also has more than 200,000 men in its national guard.[45]

Turkey

Turkish Armed Forces has a strong military-industrial base, producing platforms such as the Altay main battle tank, the MILGEM corvettes, the TAI/AgustaWestland T129 attack helicopter, the Bayraktar unmanned aerial vehicle and the TAI TFX 5th Generation Air superiority fighter.[46] With Turkey's participation and industrial know-how, the alliance intends to create inter-polarity and network centricity.[47]

United Arab Emirates

United Arab Emirates's Union Defence Force possesses the F-16 fighter aircraft, namely F-16 E/F Block 60, which are highly advanced for the region.[48][49] The United Arab Emirates Air Force has also been involved in a series of anti-terrorists operations in Syria.[50]

Bangladesh

Bangladesh Armed Forces has about 400,000+ active armed forces personnel with 600+ main battle tanks, 2000+ APC, an air force with 200+ aircraft, and the largest blue-water Navy in the Islamic world with 120+ surface ships. The Bangladesh Army was also the only country from the South Asia to participate in Gulf War, and holds a defense alliance with Kuwait, pledging defense of Kuwait if attacked by any external party.[51][52]

Reactions

 Bangladesh: Bangladesh was one of the early members to join the alliance doing so on 15 December 2015. The country confirmed its membership in a joint statement by the founder nations that stated "a duty to protect the Islamic nation from the evils of all terrorist groups and organizations whatever their sect and name which wreak death and corruption on earth and aim to terrorize the innocent."[53][54][55] However, Bangladesh may only dispatch troops to protect two holiest sites of Islam in Mecca and Medina.[56]

 China: China was expressed its willingness to cooperate with the alliance to fighting terrorism and appreciated Saudi efforts to create alliance.[57]

 Egypt: Egypt's Al-Azhar University called the alliance's formation "historic."[58]

 Germany: Germany's defense minister Ursula von der Leyen welcomed the alliance against terrorism but also stressed that it should be a part of the Vienna process involving all countries fighting against IS like the U.S., Europe, Russia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, but also including Iran and China.[59]

 Malaysia: Malaysian Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein expressed support for the alliance, but ruled out any military support from Malaysia.[26]

 Pakistan: After initial ambiguity Pakistan welcomed the initiative; its government confirmed its participation and stated that the country is waiting for further details in order to decide the extent of its participation in the different activities of the alliance. Although the Commander in Chief of the IMAFT, Gen Raheel Sharif only agreed to command upon the condition that Iran must be the part of this Alliance[30]

 Turkey: Turkey's Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu called it the "best response to those who are trying to associate terror and Islam".

 United States: The new alliance has been welcomed by the United States, with then U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter saying, "We look forward to learning more about what Saudi Arabia has in mind in terms of this coalition. But in general it appears it is very much in line with something we've been urging for quite some time, which is greater involvement in the campaign to combat ISIL by Sunni Arab countries.[5][14]

Criticism

Due to the dominance of the alliance by states having majority Sunni Muslim populations, it has been called "a sectarian coalition" by Hakeem Azameli, a member of the Security and Defense Commission in the Iraqi parliament.[25][16][15]

However, Oman, an Ibadi-dominant country and friend of Iran has joined the alliance. Lebanon, an ally of Iran with half of its Muslim population being Shia, has also supported the alliance. Other countries who are part of the alliance or support it that have cordial or friendly relations with Iran include Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Kuwait, Libya, Pakistan and Indonesia. More likely, the absence of Iran and Iraq from the alliance is due to the political tension between Saudi Arabia and Iran.[60]

References

  1. ↑ http://www.npr.org/2017/06/05/531536398/qatar-accused-of-supporting-terrorists-nations-sever-diplomatic-ties
  2. 1 2 3 "Joint statement on formation of Islamic military alliance to fight terrorism". Kingdom of Saudi Arabia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 15 December 2015. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  3. ↑ "Islamic military coalition holds first meeting in Riyadh". Gulf News. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  4. ↑ "Saudi Arabia Unveils 34-Country 'Islamic Military Alliance'". NBC News. Retrieved 2015-12-15.
  5. 1 2 DeYoung, Karen (2015-12-15). "Saudi Arabia launches 'Islamic military alliance' to combat terrorism". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2015-12-16.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Oliver Miles (16 December 2015). "Is Saudi Arabia's anti-terrorist alliance real?". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  7. 1 2 Cafiero, Giorgio (5 January 2017). "Why did Oman join Saudi Arabia's anti-terrorism alliance?". Al Monitor. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  8. ↑ "Defence minister confirms Raheel Sharif's appointment to Islamic military alliance".
  9. ↑ http://khaleejtimes.com/international/pakistan/paks-raheel-sharif-appointed-chief-of-saudi-led-military-coalition
  10. ↑ "UAE joins Muslim military alliance to fight terrorism". 7DAYS UAE. Retrieved 2015-12-20.
  11. ↑ "Turkey joins Saudi-led Islamic military alliance against terrorism". TodaysZaman. Archived from the original on 2015-12-19. Retrieved 2015-12-20.
  12. ↑ "UAE joins 34-nation anti-terrorist military coalition | The National". www.thenational.ae. Retrieved 2015-12-20.
  13. ↑ "Islamic military alliance". Aaj News. Retrieved 2015-12-22.
  14. 1 2 3 "Saudi Arabia announces 34-state Islamic military alliance against terrorism". Reuters. 2015-12-15. Retrieved 2015-12-15.
  15. 1 2 "Turkey joins Sunni 'anti-terrorist' military coalition". Agence France-Presse. 15 December 2015. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  16. 1 2 Serguei Doubine; Behnam Masoumi; Riad Muasses; Rita Del Prete (15 December 2015). "What do Russia and Iran think about Saudi Arabia's coalition initiative?". euronews. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  17. ↑ Zain, Ali (10 March 2016). "Saudi Arabia 'wants' Gen Raheel Sharif to command 34-nation Saudi alliance". Daily Pakistan. Retrieved 12 March 2017.
  18. ↑ Rao, Hamza (10 January 2017). "Gen. (r) Raheel Sharif 'sets three conditions' to become commander of Islamic military alliance". Daily Pakistan. Retrieved 12 March 2017.
  19. ↑ "Afghanistan joins Saudi Arabia's anti-terrorism coalition". 1TV Afghanistan. 18 October 2016. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  20. ↑ Habib Toumi (16 December 2015). "Bahrain hails new Islamic military alliance". Gulf News. Retrieved 29 December 2015.
  21. ↑ "Bangladesh in 34-state Islamic military alliance". thedailystar.net. Reuters Dubai. Retrieved 23 December 2015.
  22. ↑ "Saudi-based 'Islamic military alliance' formed to fight terror". New York Post. Associated Press. Retrieved 23 December 2015.
  23. ↑ "Eritrea joins Saudi-led military alliance against terrorism". TesfaNews. 21 December 2015. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  24. ↑ ""Our regional policy is anchored on promoting our national as well as our collective security interests" President Isaias". Shabait.com. Eritrea Ministry of Information. 10 February 2016. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
  25. 1 2 3 4 Kayode Sesan (16 December 2015). "Turkey Confirms Membership of Sunni 'Islamic Military Alliance', Nigeria, Libya Also Members". SIGNAL. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  26. 1 2 3 "Malaysia's Role in Saudi Arabia's Islamic Military Alliance". 2017-03-13. Retrieved 2017-04-09.
  27. ↑ "Oman joins Saudi-led Islamic alliance: Gulf sources". Reuters. 28 December 2016. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  28. ↑ Baqir Sajjad Syed (2015-12-16). "Pakistan surprised by its inclusion in 34-nation military alliance". DAWN. Retrieved 2015-12-17.
  29. ↑ "Pakistan Joins Saudi-Lead Anti-Terror Coalition". sputnik. 2015-12-18. Retrieved 2015-12-18.
  30. 1 2 Baqir Sajjad Syed (2015-12-16). "Pakistan confirms participation in Saudi-led anti-terror alliance". DAWN. Retrieved 2015-12-17.
  31. ↑ Bokhari, Farhan (2016-03-09). "Pakistan's Sharif visits Saudi Arabia amid debate over military ties". Financial Times. ISSN 0307-1766. Retrieved 2016-03-25.
  32. ↑ "Saudi Arabia forms Muslim 'anti-terrorism' coalition". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2015-12-16.
  33. ↑ "Saudis announce Islamic anti-terrorism coalition - BBC News". BBC News. Retrieved 2015-12-15.
  34. ↑ Wam (16 December 2015). "34-nation alliance to fight terrorism". Emirates 24/7. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  35. 1 2 Marguerite Afra Sapiie (2015-12-16). "Indonesia yet to decide on Saudi-led military coalition". The Jakarta Post. Retrieved 2015-12-19.
  36. 1 2 Sara Rajabova (2015-12-15). "Baku considers joining Riyadh-based coalition to fight terrorism". AzerNews. Retrieved 2015-12-19.
  37. ↑ "Azerbaijan says joining Islamic Military Alliance not on its foreign policy agenda". Azeri-Press Agency. 9 January 2017. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  38. 1 2 "Tajikistan, Azerbaijan to Join Islamic Coalition". Asharq Al-Awsat. Retrieved 2016-01-03.
  39. 1 2 "Tajikistan reportedly plans to join Muslim anti-terror coalition formed by Saudi Arabia". Asia-Plus. Retrieved 2016-01-03.
  40. ↑ "Yes". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2017-04-09.
  41. ↑ "Pakistan Approves Military Hero to Head Tricky Saudi-Led Alliance: Report". www.nytimes.com. Retrieved 2017-04-09.
  42. ↑ Bermant, Azriel (20 May 2015). "Pakistan Is the Only Muslim Nuclear State So Why Is Israel's Hysteria Reserved for Iran?" – via Haaretz.
  43. ↑ "Trends in World Military Expenditure, 2015" (PDF). Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  44. ↑ "Political Regimes in the Arab World: Society and the Exercise of Power". September 4, 2012.
  45. ↑ "Saudi King Salman cements hold on power". aljazeera.net. 30 January 2015. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  46. ↑ "Turkey's formidable defence industry – rising star or NATO's unruly ally?".
  47. ↑ Sputnik. "Turkey Approves Billions in New Defense Projects".
  48. ↑ "Top Falcons: The UAEs F-16 Block 60/61 Fighters".
  49. ↑ "F-16 Air Forces - United Arab Emirates".
  50. ↑ Watkinson, William (7 February 2016). "Syria conflict: UAE will join anti-Isis ground operation despite Bashar al-Assad warning".
  51. ↑ "Kuwaiti-Bangladeshi military ties distinctive: Senior officer". Kuwait Times. 22 November 2016. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
  52. ↑ "Bangladesh Army’s contract to defend Kuwait renewed". www.bdmilitary.com.
  53. ↑ "Bangladesh in 34-state Islamic military alliance". 15 December 2015.
  54. ↑ "Bangladesh joins Saudi-backed anti-IS alliance". Dhaka Tribune.
  55. ↑ "Bangladesh joins Saudi-led 'Islamic military alliance'".
  56. ↑ Independent, The. "Troops will be sent to KSA, if needed". Troops will be sent to KSA, if needed | theindependentbd.com. Retrieved 2017-05-22.
  57. ↑ "China backs Islamic Military Alliance to fight terrorism". Arab News. 2017-06-22. Retrieved 2015-12-19.
  58. ↑ "Egypt's Azhar says Saudi decision to form Islamic military alliance 'historic'". Ahram Online. 15 December 2015. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  59. ↑ "Germany welcomes 34-state Islamic military alliance against terrorism". Business Insider. Retrieved 2016-01-05.
  60. ↑ http://www.arabnews.com/saudi-arabia/news/851666
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