The Baghdad Pact, which we refused to be party to in the '50s, was an endeavour by Western countries to rally Arab states against the Soviet Union. Rumour has it that Egypt was invited to join, and declined the offer. I commend and support its decision. Such an alliance can only breed animosity and create polarisation. Our relations with other countries would have to conform with the pattern dictated by the pact.
Pacts are an anachronism today.
This is the age of economic integration, not political polarisation. We should be looking instead at how to achieve economic integration at the regional level. Based on an interview by Mohamed Salmawy.