The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's welcome of the United States' decision to designate the branches of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon as terrorist organizations. This welcome stems from the Kingdom's firm and unwavering stance in condemning all forms of extremism and terrorism, and its continued support for international efforts aimed at eliminating the sources of terrorism and achieving security and stability in the Arab region and the world at large.
Details of the US decision and the freezing of resources
In a significant escalation, Washington announced on Tuesday the designation of the group's branches in the three countries as terrorist organizations. In this context, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that "this designation reflects the first steps in an ongoing effort to counter the violence and instability perpetrated by Muslim Brotherhood affiliates wherever they are found." Rubio affirmed the United States' commitment to using all available diplomatic and legal tools to deprive these branches of the resources necessary to carry out their activities or support terrorism.
For his part, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent explained that the group has "a long history of committing terrorist acts," emphasizing that the US administration is working vigorously to exclude it from the global financial system. This designation entails freezing any assets the group holds within the United States, criminalizing financial transactions with it, and imposing strict restrictions that impede the travel of its members to US territory.
Historical context and the Saudi position
The Saudi position on the Muslim Brotherhood is not new; the Kingdom was among the first to designate the group a terrorist organization in 2014, based on its view of the dangers of exploiting religion for partisan political purposes that destabilize countries. Observers believe that Saudi Arabia's welcoming of the American move reflects a convergence of views between Riyadh and Washington on the need to confront political Islamist movements that adopt violence or incitement as a means of change.
This decision strengthens the regional front against the group, which mainly includes Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, thus tightening the noose politically and financially on the group’s organizations in the Middle East.
Egyptian welcome and the implications of the timing
On the Egyptian front, Cairo welcomed the US decision, which President Donald Trump had paved the way for in November 2015. The Egyptian Foreign Ministry described the decision as "a landmark step reflecting a growing international awareness of the danger posed by this group and its extremist ideology." Egypt considers this designation a victory for its diplomacy, which has long called on the international community, particularly the West, to take firm stances against the group, which has been banned in Egypt since 2013 following the June 30 revolution.
Expected effects of the decision
This classification has far-reaching implications, not limited to the symbolic aspect, but extending to include:
- Financial strangulation: The decision will complicate financial transfers and cross-border funding for the group's branches, weakening its organizational capacity.
- Political isolation: The decision will put pressure on governments or parties in other countries that may deal with branches of the group, for fear of secondary US sanctions.
- Regional security: The decision enhances security and intelligence coordination between the United States and its Arab allies in pursuing members of the group and dismantling its networks.
