Arab Ministerial Committee calls for Turkey to withdraw its forces from Syria, Iraq, and Libya 

CAIRO — At the sixth meeting of the Arab Ministerial Committee, the group issued a statement urging the Turkish government to respect the sovereignty of Arab countries and refrain from interfering in their internal affairs.

The Arab Ministerial Committee is comprised of Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and the Secretary-General of the Arab League.

This week, the Committee held a meeting in Cairo to discuss Turkish interference in the internal affairs of Arab countries. The meeting was held on the sidelines of the 159th session of the Arab League Council, where the agenda included political developments in Palestine, Arab water security issues, as well as the situations in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Libya, and Yemen. The interference of both Iran and Turkey in the internal affairs of Arab countries was also discussed.

The Committee expressed concern over Turkey’s military presence in Syria, Iraq, and Libya and called on Ankara to take measures to address the recruitment, training, and transfer of foreign mercenaries within Arab borders.

The Committee also stressed the importance of respecting UN Security Council resolutions related to Libya and rejected any demographic changes in Arab regions under Turkish control. Additionally, it called on Turkey to respect the water rights of Syria and Iraq and to halt the construction of dams at the headwaters of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers which have negative effects on the region.

The Committee’s concerns about Turkey’s military presence and its support for foreign mercenaries reflect the ongoing security challenges in the region, which require the cooperation of all parties to address effectively.