Regional crisis discussions scheduled at Baghdad's Arab League summit.

SATURDAY SHOWDOWN IN BAGHDAD: REGIONAL LEADERS MEET TO ADDRESS GAZA CRISIS AND REGIONAL CALAMITIES

On this heated Saturday, the Arab League convenes in Baghdad to discuss the raging mess in Gaza and other geopolitical catastrophes sparked by Mr. Trump's controversial Gulf tour.

This gathering follows Trump's contentious statement earlier this year, proposing America seize control of Gaza and turn it into a "Middle Eastern Riviera" – a notion that left Arab leaders scrambling to craft a plan for Gazan reconstruction during a March summit in Cairo.

The first Arab leader to arrive in Baghdad was none other than the Palestinian President, Mahmud Abbas, on the previous day. However, a diplomatic source reported that Gulf countries would mostly attend at a ministerial level.

BIG-TICKET DEAL: QATAR INKS $200BN JET PURCHASE FROM BOEING

Tensions in Gaza are set to dominate the discussions, especially since Israel announced plans to intensify their offensive in the war-torn region, using the term "conquest" to describe their intentions.

Antonio Guterres, the United Nations Chief, will grace the summit, with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who harshly criticized Israel's devastating offensive in Gaza, set to address it as a guest.

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein assured that the Baghdad summit will endorse decisions made at the 2022 Cairo meeting to support Gaza's reconstruction as an alternative to Trump's widely criticized proposal.

Trump once again expressed his desire for U.S. involvement in Gaza during his visit to Qatar, promising to "take" Gaza and turn it into a "freedom zone."

SYRIA, IRAN, AND UNSTABLE REGIONS

Iraq, still grappling with the aftermath of decades-long conflict and turmoil, hopes to project a picture of stability during this summit.

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, in an op-ed about the summit, wrote: "We are not just rebuilding Iraq, but reshaping the Middle East by means of a balanced foreign policy, wise leadership, development initiatives, and strategic partnerships."

Baghdad last hosted an Arab League summit in 2012, in the midst of the disastrous war in neighboring Syria. The city played host only six months after Bashar al-Assad entered a new chapter in Syria's history, having fallen from power.

Ahmad al-Sharaa, who spent years in Iraqi prisons following claims of Al-Qaeda membership after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion, was initially invited to Baghdad's summit but faced substantial opposition from Iraqi politicians, resulting in his absence. His intended replacement, Asaad al-Shaibani, will represent Syria instead.

GAZA, IRAN, AND ECONOMIC TENSIONS

The summit unfolds against the backdrop of Iran's ongoing nuclear negotiations with the United States. Despite Trump's recent calls for diplomacy to avert a potential Israeli military strike on Iran, he issued a warning that the situation could turn sour if the Iranians drag their feet.

Nevertheless, on Thursday, Trump suggested a deal was "nearly there." But by Friday, he ominously hinted that a disaster might unfold if the Iranians fail to make stride in the negotiations.

[1] Al-Arabiya, (2025), Arab leaders to meet in Baghdad amid escalating Gaza violence, available at https://english.alarabiya.net/News/middle-east/2025/05/16/Arab-leaders-to-meet-in-Baghdad-amid-escalating-Gaza-violence [last accessed May 17, 2025]

[2] Middle East Monitor, (2025), Arab League Summit to discuss Gaza crisis, Syria, and Iran, available at https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20250517-arab-league-summit-to-discuss-gaza-crisis-syria-and-iran/ [last accessed May 17, 2025]

[3] Al Jazeera, (2025), Iraq to host Arab League summit amid regional tensions, available at https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/5/16/iraq-to-host-arab-league-summit-amid-regional-tensions [last accessed May 17, 2025]

[4] Reuters, (2025), Arab League to endorse Cairo's Gaza reconstruction plans amid strained bilateral ties, available at https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/arab-league-endorse-cairos-gaza-reconstruction-plans-amid-strained-bilateral-ties-2025-05-17/ [last accessed May 17, 2025]

[5] Haaretz, (2025), Iraq welcomes US decision to lift Syria sanctions, available at https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/iraq-welcomes-us-decision-to-lift-syria-sanctions-1.108558283 [last accessed May 17, 2025]

Enrichment Data:

Gaza Conflict and Reconstruction: The summit's primary focus is the ongoing Gaza war and the ensuing humanitarian crisis. Leaders are urging Israel to cease its attacks on Gaza, calling for an end to the conflict and supporting a comprehensive Arab reconstruction plan for Gaza [1][4].
Leadership Attendance: Most Arab League heads of state are absent from the gathering, with Syria's President Ahmad al-Sharar instead represented by Syria's Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani. The reason for al-Sharra's absence lies in regional sensitivities, particularly within Iraqi Shiite militias, whose opposition led to his omission from the event [2].
Regional Security and Collective Arab Action: Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid emphasized the need for unified Arab security and condemned Israel's aggression in Gaza. Rashid advocated for stronger Arab cooperation to safeguard the region [4].
US-Middle East Relations: Iraq warned the U.S. against fragmenting Arab security and called for a more balanced foreign policy. The Iraqi leadership welcomed the U.S. decision to lift Syria sanctions, viewing it as a positive step toward regional stability [3][5].
Broader Regional Issues: The summit's agenda includes other regional issues such as national security, counterterrorism, and the Iranian nuclear issue. Iraq discussed launching 18 regional initiatives aimed at fostering joint Arab action for rebuilding conflict-affected states, signaling intent to address ongoing crises collectively [2][5].

In summary, the June 1, 2025 Baghdad Arab League Summit primarily concerns the Gaza conflict and its humanitarian consequences. Regional sensitivities play a role in leadership attendance, with key Arab leaders absent, such as Syria's President al-Sharra. Despite this, the summit addresses broader issues such as security, economic concerns, and collective Arab action [1][4]. It also sheds light on evolving U.S.-Middle Eastern relations, with Iraq advocating for a more balanced foreign policy and embracing the U.S. decision to lift Syria sanctions [3][5].

Despite underlying regional tensions, Arab leaders at the Baghdad summit, assembled to address the Gaza crisis and regional calamities, are expected to endorse decisions made at the 2022 Cairo meeting that support Gaza's reconstruction as an alternative to the controversial proposal for America taking control of Gaza.
In light of Iran's ongoing nuclear negotiations with the United States, the Baghdad summit, taking place amidst escalating Gaza violence and unstable regional conditions, connects the various topics of war-and-conflicts, politics, general-news, and the geopolitical situation in Gaza to the broader Middle Eastern context, with Iraq serving as a central player in steering the region towards stability.