Cairo

Source: Al-Wafd newspaper

Dr. Ali Mohamed Al-Khouri

Amidst the intertwined global geopolitical and economic challenges, the Arab world finds itself facing a strategic dilemma in which national security priorities and imperatives overlap with development visions. With military spending on the rise at an unprecedented rate, questions arise about the feasibility of this approach in light of the needs of peoples eager to improve their living standards and opportunities for economic and social development.
The Arab Arms Race
According to reports from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, the Middle East accounts for about 32% of global arms imports, making it one of the largest arms importing regions. Behind these figures lie complex geopolitical motives ranging from regional conflicts to strategic rivalries, which is what drives many Arab countries to focus on armament as a primary tool for ensuring their national security. However, excessive reliance on this approach may reflect a vision that ignores alternative tools such as focusing on human development, building strong and independent national institutions, and aligning them with development policies, and relying on soft diplomacy and regional and international cooperation.
Economic and Social Implications
Military spending, by its high cost nature, imposes a heavy burden on the public budgets of Arab countries, exceeding in some cases 7% of GDP, compared to a global average of 2.2%. These rates mean the depletion of financial resources that could have been directed towards more important sectors such as education, health, and infrastructure.
The paradox is that, on the other hand, most Arab countries suffer from a large gap in spending on education, as it often does not exceed 3.2% of GDP, compared to a global average of 4.3%. This disparity has apparently contributed to weakening the competitiveness of many Arab countries and increasing social pressures represented by unemployment, poverty, and internal instability. It has also weakened opportunities for achieving sustainable development.
On the social level, the focus on armament is likely to lead to a tightening of the noose on basic services and increase pressure on the most vulnerable groups in society, especially in light of the shrinking resources available to meet their needs. This coincides with the deteriorating economic conditions in many Arab countries, where public debt rates are rising and economic growth levels are declining. In addition, the region’s tense political climate often deters foreign investors from entering Arab markets, further complicating the development landscape.
International Experiences
Arab countries may benefit from international experiences in achieving the required balance between security and development, such as Southeast Asian countries such as Malaysia and Singapore, whose national policies are based on building economies based on knowledge and innovation, which has helped them diversify their economies away from traditional sectors, attract international foreign investment, integrate more deeply into global value chains, and strengthen their position in the international economy.
China’s experience in redirecting its strategies towards development and economy is worth contemplating. It has restructured its army and reduced the total number of armed forces to about 2 million soldiers, thereby reducing direct military expenditures. In parallel, it has focused on technological innovation in the defense sector, which has enabled it to achieve higher efficiency at a lower cost, and direct surplus resources towards productive sectors and strategic industries that have created new sources of national income.
Moreover, Chinese policies have focused on improving economic and diplomatic relations with other countries through initiatives such as the “Belt and Road”, which have contributed to opening new markets and enhancing international trade. These steps have enabled China and Southeast Asian countries to achieve a balance between security and development, and to develop their ability to secure their borders, protect their strategic interests, and achieve high and sustainable economic growth rates, making them successful models of how to reformulate national priorities to serve comprehensive development.
Arab National Priorities
To achieve the desired balance, Arab countries must reformulate their national priorities in a way that prioritizes investment in building human capabilities, as an entry point for industrial sectors and sustainable economic policies. Developing the education system, for example, is more than an end in itself, but rather a strategic means to achieve economic independence and technological progress, and to strengthen national capabilities to confront changing security and economic environments.
Investing in scientific research and developing local defense industries are also essential pillars for building sustainable national security. Local defense industries, in particular, can contribute to reducing dependence on foreign imports and creating jobs at home. Arab countries can achieve long-term strategic gains through regional cooperation and security alliances that serve common interests, which may contribute to reducing geopolitical tensions, reducing the arms race, and even opening new horizons for development. In addition, joint economic projects and free trade zones can create an environment that supports economic growth and reshapes political relations with neighboring countries and the global environment on more sustainable foundations.

Security in the Age of New Challenges
Facts show that the traditional concept of national security is no longer sufficient to confront current challenges. Security today cannot be measured by the size of military power or the number of weapons alone, but by the state’s ability to build societies that are flexible and capable of adapting to economic, social and environmental changes. Therefore, the Arab world is undoubtedly facing a clear demand to redefine its national priorities in a way that ensures a sustainable balance between security and development. What is indisputable is that investing in knowledge and innovation will remain the key to achieving this balance and reaching the goal of stability in Arab societies. It is the only option that will guarantee Arab countries a competitive position in the new world order and give them the ability to achieve the aspirations of their peoples.