Successes And Failures Of American Policy Towards The GCC Since 2008

The role of the Middle East has been very crucial to the United States, especially after WWII. The U.S. had three strategic goals in the Middle East and consistently followed them throughout various events that unfolded in the region. First, with the emergence of the cold war between the Soviet Union and the U.S., policymakers began to recognize the importance of the Middle East as a strategic area in containing Soviet influence. This also coincides with the U.S. becoming increasingly wary of Arab nationalism and the threat it posed to U.S. influence. Secondly, the emergence of the new Israeli state in 1948 further deepened U.S. policy and involvement in the region while also creating friction between the U.S. and Arab states which were

The relationship between the United States and the Middle East has not been the best. This has been as a result of past battles between the U.S and the Middle East. For example the United States led a 34 nation to fight

Two-thirds of the world’s remaining oil reserves are in the Middle East which will make international policy imperative in the future (Campbell 2007). It is

Middle East is strategically important region where mostly world half of oil reserves are located. Three countries: Saudi Arabia, Iran and United Arab Emirates accounted for 57% of total Middle East liquids fuels production. (Liquid fuels production in Middle Eastern and North African countries n.d.) Although due to increased domestic production of petroleum and natural gas, the United States is reducing its dependence on foreign oil with imported liquid fuels, but still oil means a lot to the US as oil prices is determined internationally by what is available for all global consumers. Therefore, to safeguard the security of Oil supply in the Middle East and ensure stable access to affordable oil is in the vital interest of the America. (Mexican crude oil shipments to Europe and Asia are rising as U.S. imports fall

In the post -World War II era, the competition of global supremacy between the superpowers of the time, United States and the Soviet Union resulted in the Cold War. Many countries in the world were pulled into this rivalry including many of the states of the Middle East. Allies against the Soviet Union received substantial quantities of United States aid and were encouraged to purchase weapons of Western means. Those who were in opposition to the United States’ power received economic and military assistance from the Soviet Union. The United States were inclined to view the rivalry between them and the Soviet Union as a vie for global supremacy. The challenge of attaining democracy in the Middle East has been insufficient leadership specifically in those who shared a common border and were in proximity to the Soviet Union. The United States, in their determination to impede the threat of expansion of the borders of the Soviet Union as well as contain the spread of communion, provided economic and military assistance to keep Iran, Iraq and Turkey politically stable. Although this was the goal of the United States, they actually impeded the democracy and political stability of these countries through its persistent influence in government affairs, determining its future’s livelihood.

August 2, 2015, marked the 25th anniversary when Iraq invaded Kuwait. This even had a significant role becoming an impact towards American foreign policy for the past 25 years.The United States quickly acted upon the invasion by heading towards the Middle East after the Iraqis and Kuwait fiasco.President Barack Obama implicated a policy that focuses on international security in the Middle East, the policy issued a budget cut. It is very vital that America’s Global leader take a stand in the Middle East against ISIS.Throughout this essay, I will talk about international security in the Middle East. How does the security of the Middle East connect to the international security system and what is Iran 's position in this process? And how the focus on US foreign policy is dealing with ISIS threat.

On January 2nd, 2016, Saudi Arabia executed 47 people on terrorism charges, including prominent Shiite Saudi cleric Nimr al-Nimr . Protestors in predominantly Shiite Iran promptly set fire to the Saudi embassy in Tehran, while the Iranian foreign minister denounced Saudi Arabia’s actions. Saudi Arabia then severed all diplomatic ties with Iran, and many of their Sunni monarchist allies have done the same. Over the past week and a half, the Gulf has rapidly become a battleground, with countries being forced to choose a side in this sectarian quarrel. In order to preserve short-term peace, countries must follow America’s lead and remain neutral in this conflict.

The Arabian Gulf region is currently in a fragile status. Iran is emerging as a regional hegemony trying to expand its sphere of influence over the GCC states and even beyond to the entire Middle East, increasing the tension with its neighbors. Its growing military capabilities along with its nuclear program and ballistic missile technology have risen the instability in the region. On the other side, the GCC lead by Saudi Arabia, along with Israel, have their own fears, from the sectarian tensions that can destroy the GCC stability, especially in KSA and Bahrain, to the threat to the maritime lines of trades especially the Strait of Hormuz

Growing up being a diplomat has always been a career I wanted to pursue. When I was in elementary school my best friend’s father was diplomat for the State Department. He would constantly tell me stories of his travels from living in South Africa, Germany, and Thailand. I already loved traveling and I was so in love with this job because the career would be receiving a check for something I already love to do. However it is not only about the traveling this job has many benefits including being able to resolve world issues and help un-developed countries with their issues.

With the Islamic Sunnis-Shiite divide and attempts by democratic advocates who actively try to challenge dictators, the region has fallen into a state of conflict. While, the United States might want to focus on Asia, it will most always have its concerns about Iran, where oil, its nuclear program, and most likely outcome to draw a nuclear arms race is one that the world is keeping an eye on. The Iran Deal signed by the former President Obama, has the intention of lifting sanctions with the goal to keep Iran from producing nuclear weapons. With regards to the nuclear issue, the Qatari’s close relationship with the Iranians is beginning to add fuel to the gulf issue as a resolution is not that easy to broker.

This course aims to educate students regarding the modern (post-1970) trajectory of US foreign policy in regards the Middle East, and how such policy has influenced the Middle East state system. Both in recent history and presently, the US role in the region has been pivotal in shaping the regional system as well as ensuring the stability of the regional status quo. The various interests that drive US foreign policy in the region will be examined.

It has been stated in this report that, the Gulf region is in high-quality situation and is unlikely to change this condition. If it is believed that there is any risk because of the war in Iran, the projects will be retreated. Many of the foreign capital aim to enter Gulf region for investing and financing, especially from international banks, because of the economic and high commercial growth in these countries (Aleqt, 2007).

The blockade of Qatar is throwing the long held status quo of the region into disarray. All of the Arab Gulf states are allies of the United States and currently Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Bahrain are imposing the blockade on Qatar, with Kuwait staying neutral. The involvement of the United States, Turkey and Iran seems to indicate that this conflict was more than just a petty dispute between the gulf states. In this unipolar world, it would make sense that once a dominant power chooses a side, a conflict such as this one would soon meet its conclusion. However, even with the United States involvement, the Qatar blockade has been in effect for five months and has no end in sight. This would seem to indicate that perhaps the United States is not as powerful as previously thought. This leads me to ask the following question: How does the blockade of Qatar impact American goals in the Middle East.

Part of the issue is that U.S. security guarantees result in lack of consensus and cooperation among the Gulf states themselves, which ultimately fuels conflict. It could be argued that American security commitments and lack of cooperation are mutually reinforcing and form a vicious circle.

Because of this, the Arabian Gulf States should work collectively to fill the power vacuum and increase the level of security in the Arabian Gulf region. This study would focus on the effects of free-riding on security arrangements among the Arabian Gulf states. Finally, applying the same framework of the NATO on the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) could help the Gulf States play a larger role in their region.