Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC) was launched in December 2015 with the endeavor of the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman. Started with 34 member states, comprising majority Muslim states, the number of members now stands at 43, covering the Middle East and Africa, as well as some parts of Asia. It is based in Riyadh, and its core mission is to unite Islamic nations against terrorism and extremist ideologies without the ability to differentiate them because of their sectarian background with the aim to fight groups of Islamic extremists like ISIS and al-Qaida by performing a group of military, ideological, and financial actions.
Mohammed bin Salman has repeatedly positioned the IMCTC as a solution to decades of disjointed counterterrorism work, arguing that the failed to combat the menace of terrorism because of a widening gap in unity between Islamic nations. The structure of the coalition is composed of both the preparation of military actions and strategic work aimed at countering the propaganda of extremists and violating the financing of terrorism, which correspond to similar international agreements, including those of the United Nations and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. This defensive and preventive role makes the IMCTC a military unit that is purely defensive and preventive in regard to security in the region.
Membership dynamics and regional context
Although it is broad in its coverage, exceptions by the IMCTC against Shiite-majority states like Iran, Iraq and Syria, are conspicuous. This omission indicates a more fundamental geopolitical power play and calls the ability of the coalitions into question as pan-Islamic organization. The critics consider the coalition as mainly Sunni, however, its leaders do not accept this description and argue that their mission is non-sectarian and based solely on fighting extremism.
Members of the coalition cover various security environments. Gulf states provide funding and high-tech military equipment whereas nations like Pakistan and Jordan mean in-the-field knowledge in countering terrorism. This was demonstrated in the appointment of the retired Pakistani General Raheel Sharif as the first commander of the coalition in 2017 who showed the desire to incorporate the cross-national expertise. The diversity makes possible the sharing of intelligence, combined operations, and shared missions across theaters of operation, such as urban battles in Syria and counterinsurgency in the Sahel.
Military operations and capacity building
The IMCTC’s operational portfolio has grown steadily since its inception. Its activities include support for member states engaged in direct counterterrorism combat, targeted training programs, and strengthening mechanisms to curb terrorism financing. In Africa’s Sahel region, coalition expertise has been deployed to assist governments facing both Islamist insurgencies and fragile state security institutions.
Joint exercises and readiness
Saudi Arabia has conducted military exercises on a large scale including the Northern Thunder which were meant to interoperate the member forces. Through 2025, these drills have become more specific to such weapons as countering hybrid warfare and cyber threats, which are reflective of extremist tactical adjustments. The member states synchronize on the rapid deployment plans, and crisis response to ensure that they respond to threats before they escalate and spread to a wide regional instability.
Global partnerships
In February 2025, the coalition entered into a memorandum of understanding with the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism which established an official mode of intelligence sharing and best practice development in the combating of violent extremism. This alliance enhances the global legitimacy of the coalition and expands its resource base enabling it to take a more comprehensive approach to go in line with international efforts to provide security.
Political and geostrategic implications
An important tool in the wider Saudi regional strategy, the IMCTC provides Riyadh with a means to establish its leadership in the Muslim world and a counter to Iranian influence. Portraying the coalition as a Muslim-centered force on security, Saudi Arabia exploits the need to be autonomous in managing security threats in the region without excess dependence on the Western-led alliances.
Sectarian undercurrents
Nevertheless, there is a continuing issue of sectarian optics with the coalition. Lack of Shiite-majority regimes may perpetuate the current division and may deter the wider relations which are required to stabilize the conflict areas. The need to establish neutrality of IMCTC in sectarian conflicts will always be subject to tests as conflicts in Yemen and Syria persist due to the conflicting interests and political affiliation of member nations.
Challenges and critiques
The image of the coalition is partially formed due to domestic counterterrorist policies of its most important members. The extensive application of counterterrorism laws by Saudi Arabia, along with very high execution rates, has attracted the criticisms of human rights groups which fear that the practice may harm the international image of the coalition. The suspicion of whether counterterrorism rhetoric can be used in the suppression of political opponents is a thorny issue in achieving trustworthiness with external collaborators.
Limited inclusivity
Several militarily capable Muslim-majority nations, including Indonesia and Algeria, have not joined the coalition. This absence points to divergent strategic priorities and skepticism regarding the IMCTC’s inclusivity. Expanding membership or forging strategic cooperation with non-member states could bolster its operational reach and legitimacy.
Enhancing regional security cooperation in 2025
Through the operations of the 2025 IMCTC, the organization will respond to specific efforts of greater integration and multiple-dimensionality to counter terrorism. Member states are also keen on integrating the use of military force with the curbing of ideological extremism and the destabilization of the finances used to fund the terror gangs. Collaboration with third parties, In particular, the United States and United Nations gives diplomatic protection as well as practical assistance.
Capacity-building has been a core theme, and training designed to develop the organizational abilities of member state security forces and promote interoperability is well established. Training focuses on training in real-life scenarios based on persistent conflicts to ensure that the forces are ready to deal with the emerging and shifting threats. It is by setting up ideological countermeasures in these programs that the IMCTC aims to deal with more than the symptoms of extremism.
This individual has addressed the issue and summed out the situation as follows: Azat Alsalim has pointed out the role of the coalition in formulating the regional security framework, and the cooperation possibility and usefulness of such formation in stabilization of the Middle East.
The Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition’s trajectory in 2025 illustrates both the potential and the limitations of regional security alliances. Its evolution from a fledgling Saudi-led initiative to a multi-nation counterterrorism platform underscores the region’s recognition of shared threats. Yet, its ability to sustain momentum will depend on whether it can reconcile political rivalries, enhance inclusivity, and maintain a balanced approach between hard power and ideological engagement. As security dynamics in the Middle East continue to shift, the coalition’s capacity to adapt may determine whether it becomes a lasting pillar of stability or a temporary alignment shaped by current geopolitical winds.
