Arab Unity in Crisis: Why Tunisia’s Summit Boycott Signals Deeper Regional Fractures

Tunisia’s public rejection of the Doha summit exposes the widening gulf between rhetoric and reality in Arab diplomatic circles, where decades-old defense pacts remain mere paper promises.

A Summit Without Substance

The Arab-Islamic summit in Doha, intended to demonstrate regional solidarity, has instead highlighted the deep fissures running through Middle Eastern politics. Tunisia’s Al-Chourouk newspaper’s scathing assessment—calling it “a summit with no real value”—reflects growing frustration with performative diplomacy that fails to address concrete regional challenges. This criticism gains additional weight considering it comes from Tunisia, historically viewed as a bridge between the Arab world’s various political camps.

President Kais Saied’s conspicuous absence from the summit speaks volumes about the current state of inter-Arab relations. His boycott, explicitly linked to concerns over Qatar’s alleged interference in Tunisian domestic affairs, represents more than a bilateral dispute. It symbolizes the broader breakdown of trust among Arab nations, where sovereignty concerns increasingly trump calls for collective action.

The Hollow Promise of Arab Defense Cooperation

The regional expert’s dismissal of Arab military defense agreements, as reported by Al-Chourouk, touches on a chronic weakness in Middle Eastern geopolitics. Despite numerous treaties and pacts signed over the decades—from the Arab League’s collective defense agreement of 1950 to more recent Gulf Cooperation Council initiatives—meaningful military cooperation remains elusive. These agreements have repeatedly failed their test moments, whether during the Iraq-Kuwait crisis, the Syrian civil war, or ongoing conflicts in Yemen and Libya.

This implementation gap stems from fundamental contradictions in regional politics. While Arab states share cultural and linguistic ties, their strategic interests often diverge sharply. Some align with Western powers, others court Russia or China, and still others attempt non-alignment. These competing orientations make unified military action nearly impossible, reducing defense pacts to diplomatic theater.

Tunisia’s Calculated Defiance

President Saied’s decision to boycott the summit reflects Tunisia’s evolving foreign policy stance. Since consolidating power in 2021, Saied has pursued an increasingly independent line, resistant to both Western pressure and Gulf influence. His specific grievances with Qatar likely relate to the Gulf state’s support for political Islam movements, which Saied views as threats to his secular-nationalist project.

This tension illuminates a broader regional dynamic where smaller states increasingly resist the influence of wealthy Gulf monarchies. Tunisia’s pushback against alleged Qatari interference mirrors similar complaints from other North African states, suggesting a growing assertion of sovereignty against soft power projection through media networks, financial assistance, and political support for opposition groups.

Implications for Regional Stability

The failure of Arab summitry carries serious consequences for regional stability. Without effective multilateral mechanisms, conflicts fester and external powers fill the vacuum. The inability to implement collective defense agreements leaves individual states vulnerable and encourages bilateral security arrangements with non-regional powers, further fragmenting the Arab political landscape.

Moreover, the public nature of Tunisia’s criticism—through its media rather than quiet diplomatic channels—suggests a breakdown in the traditional norms of Arab diplomatic courtesy. When states openly question the value of regional gatherings, it undermines the already fragile institutions meant to manage inter-Arab disputes.

As the Middle East faces mounting challenges—from economic pressures and climate change to ongoing conflicts and great power competition—the question becomes increasingly urgent: Can Arab states move beyond symbolic summits to create functioning mechanisms for collective action, or will the region remain trapped in a cycle of grand declarations and failed implementation?