Saudi Arabia welcomes the US designation of Muslim Brotherhood branches as terrorist groups
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia expressed its strong support for the decision issued by the United States of America to designate the branches of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon as terrorist organizations. This Saudi position is consistent with the Kingdom's steadfast policy of combating extremism and terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, and its ongoing commitment to strengthening international cooperation to eliminate the sources of terrorism.
The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed in its statement that this decision serves the security and stability of the region, stressing its continued condemnation of extremist ideologies and its full support for all efforts that ensure the security and prosperity of Arab countries and protect international peace and security from the threats of ideologically driven groups.
Dimensions of the US decision and the freezing of resources
In a move reflecting a significant shift in US policy toward political Islamist movements, Washington officially designated the group's branches in the three countries as terrorist organizations. In this context, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that this designation represents "the first step in a sustained effort to counter the violence and instability perpetrated by these branches," emphasizing his country's determination to use all available tools to deprive them of the resources necessary to carry out their activities.
For his part, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent explained that the group has a "long history of committing terrorist acts," noting that vigorous efforts are underway to exclude it from the global financial system. This designation carries immediate legal and economic consequences, including freezing all assets and property belonging to or associated with the group within the United States, criminalizing any financial or commercial transactions with it by U.S. citizens or institutions, and imposing strict travel restrictions on its members.
Historical context and the Egyptian position
This position is not new to the regional scene; Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates had previously classified the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization, following political and security events that the region witnessed after 2011. The new American decision is considered a unification of visions between Washington and its main Arab allies in confronting political Islam organizations.
In Cairo, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry welcomed the decision, which was paved the way for by President Donald Trump, describing it as a "pivotal step." The Egyptian statement affirmed that this designation reflects a growing international awareness of the danger posed by the group's ideology and the direct threat it represents to national security and regional stability in general.
The repercussions of the decision on the regional landscape
Observers believe that the inclusion of the group's branches in Jordan and Lebanon, in addition to Egypt, in the decision carries significant political implications. It tightens the noose on the group's political and financial activities in the Levant region and blocks attempts to regroup or use the territories of other countries as launching pads for operations or funding. This decision also strengthens the security and intelligence partnership between the United States and countries in the region within the framework of the global war on terror.
