Middle East Security Issues and

Implications for the Philippines

Henelito A. Sevilla Jr.
(2011)

Report prepared by: Jennissa d. piso

 SECURITY CHALLENGES OF
THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH
AFRICAN REGIONS
• Changing definition of Security in Middle East
• Issue on Regional Cooperation hindering them to solve issues as one
• Security Issues listed which blurred the Common Security Perceptions of
the Arab Nations:
(1) Sunni-Shiite dichotomy,
(2) tribal rivalries between and among Arabs,
(3) inter-ethnic wars
(4) routes to mineral and energy resources
(5) support on the state of Israel
 Disarmament and
non-proliferation issues
a. Wars within the Region and its Causes
- 1979 Iraq versus Iran War – initiated by Iraq, caused wanton destruction to the oil
facilities in both countries, primary aim was to destabilize their economy by
destroying oil facilities.
- 1991 Persian Gulf War – initiated by Iraq (led by Saddam Hussein) against Kuwait
to acquire its large oil reserve, cancel its large debt to Kuwait, and expand Iraqi
power in the region, demonstrated that even an Arab country couldn’t fully trust
another Arab country.
b. Disarmament process cannot be expected to be successful as most of the countries
in the region don’t have commitment with existing international treaties and
agreements on disarmament and non-proliferation.
c. Iran and the U.S.A.
 NON-TRADITIONAL
SECURITY
a. Drug Trafficking – ‘…as massive as the international
trade in oil, transits as strategic as the pipelines of oil
itself’ – Michael Chossudovsky
b. Migration, Population Boom, and Unemployment –
Saudization policy of Saudi Arabia
c. Food Security – issue on access to food rather than just
availability
 IMPLICATIONS FOR THE
PHILIPPINES
a. On Security – PH having a reactive policy rather than a pro-
active policy for the welfare of the OFWs in an event of regional
wars and civil-political unrest.
b. On Economy – (1) PH being dependent on the region for its
supply of crude oil, (2) Arabization threat, (3) Land-lease
Agreements between PH and Arab countries where thousands of
hectares of PH land are leased for agricultural deals, (4) OFWs
being victims of drug syndicates and used as drug mules