I. What should be the basis for the US foreign policy in the Middle East?

The Middle East has always been described as a powder keg, a tinderbox of political grievances and economic frustration, or simply as a stumbling block for the US foreign policy. While the main thrust of the US foreign policy is oriented to the Asia-Pacific region, Russia, Iran and Turkey are the prime candidates to fill the vacuum, which emerges in the Middle East political landscape. The United States has always relied on its military power and support of its regional satellites in maintaining a good image. At present, Washington attempts to shun foreign entanglements in general and eschew from the use of force in the Middle East in particular because it has had bitter experience in Iraq and Afghanistan. The US’s stance towards the civil war in Libya demonstrated the country’s willingness to desist from direct attacks against “the enemies of democracy.” Reluctance of the US to intercede in the Syrian civil war, which has been raging in the country for more than two years, also evinces the US government’s abidance by President Obama’s admonition to steer clear of direct military interventions. Such a transformation of the US’s approach to the Middle East affairs is closely associated with Israel, for American military capacity and presence are the fundamental pillars of the Israel’s regional policy. If the latter went awry, Washington always flexed its military muscle in order to ensure the security of its protectorate. This is exactly the reason why Iran and other Muslim countries accuse Israel of being the bulwark of alien American virtues in the region. Iran’s categorical refusal to dismantle, or at least mothball, its nuclear program is another foreign policy issue that the US waxes angry about. Israel wants the US to take much more decisive measures in this regard, but Washington is devoted to avoiding unnecessary bloodshed in the region. Despite the influential Israeli lobby, the US tends to step out of line with this country aspiring it to adopt a more peaceful platform. This means that the US policy towards the Middle East is going to be overwhelmed with peaceful tenor https://thesisleader.com/.

II. The US’s stance toward the Saudi Arabia’s political quandary

A variety of experts explains keen interest of the US in Saudi Arabia by the raw materials relationship that exists between two states. Colossal reserves of oil make Riyadh one of the Washington’s pivotal counteragents in the sphere of hydrocarbons procurement. Oil forces the US government to maintain deliberatively constructive liaisons with the ruling class of Saudi Arabia despite its adherence to the absolutist form of government. Saudi Arabia plays a strategic role in the American foreign-policy coordinate system. Relations between Washington and Riyadh can be definitely described as peculiar, which brackets Saudi Arabia with such American partners as Britain, Australia, Japan, and Israel. According to some high-ranking officials, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia qualifies for a more preferential status than some of the hallowed American allies. Uniqueness of the Saudi-American relations lies in the geopolitical location of the kingdom. Occupying the lion’s share of the Arabian Peninsula, it has a significant impact on the political climate of the Middle East, Maghreb, and the Horn of Africa. Riyadh commands a great deal of respect in the Muslim world both in ideological and spiritual regards. This circumstance provides local political leadership with a possibility to influence motivation of other Islamic countries’ leaders. Last but certainly not least, it would not be wise to disregard the proverbial “oil factor,” which makes Saudi Arabia one of the most powerful global economic leaders. Bearing all this in mind, the US Department of State should adopt a delicate approach to this notoriously hidebound monarchy. Even the subtlest fillip of Washington’s readiness to aid the opposition in Saudi Arabia would abrade the bilateral relations between countries. If the insurgents toppled the Saudi Monarchy, the alignment of forces in the whole Middle East region would be disrupted. Moreover, it is not plausible that a small group of rebels could subvert the well-established regime. Thus, American policies of rendering surreptitious assistance to the Saudi opposition might open a Pandora’s Box of combustible sentiments.