US and Middle East

Middle East: Map

Fig. 2 - Middle East map, 1992, by the CIA, no known copyright restrictions.

Middle East: Definition

The term "Middle East" came from 19th-century Europe rather than the inhabitants of this region themselves.

Sometimes, the Middle East includes the southern Caucasus (Armenia, Azerbaijan) and Turkey. Other times, the Middle East is grouped with North Africa (MENA) for religious, cultural, and geographic reasons, including Egypt and Libya.

Colonialism and Decolonization

Before the middle of the 20th century, different colonial powers controlled the Middle East. The Ottoman Empire ruled over such present-day countries as Saudi Arabia and Syria. After this empire dissolved, some countries found independence, whereas others were under European mandates. Two agreements are essential in this context because they redefined the borders in the region:

• Treaty of Sèvres (1920)
• Treaty of Lausanne (1923)

Middle East and US: Relations

The relationships between the US and countries of the Middle East have changed over time. The relevant factors include the American behavior in the region, the domestic politics of each given country, the global political situation, such as the transition from the Cold War, and economic factors like the demand for petroleum products.

20th-century Interwar Period

In the 1920s and 1930s, the US presence in the Middle East was focused on two key areas:

• commerce
• diplomacy

Regarding diplomacy, the US recognized newly-established states such as Saudi Arabia in 1931. In turn, Saudi Arabia allowed Standard Oil, an American company, to have a concession (government permit) on its territory.

Similar business relations formed elsewhere. When a large oil field was found in Iraq, Britain, France, and the US signed the Red Line Agreement (1928), splitting the share through the Turkish Petroleum Company (TPC). The US was represented by the Near East Development Corporation (ExxonMobil).

Big business interests like this went beyond commerce. Professor of Journalism, Steve Coll, argued that energy giants like ExxonMobil shaped the subsequent American foreign policy.²

Fig. 3 - The Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, next to President Nixon, 1969.

Cold War and Beyond

As American power increased after the Second World War, so did its involvement in the Middle East. During the Cold War (1945-1991), the US subscribed to a foreign policy of containment. The latter meant that Communism was to be challenged in every corner of the world along with America's rival, the Soviet Union.

As a result, the Middle East featured a balance-of-power arrangement. Regional players belonged to either the American bloc or the Soviet bloc. For example, Syria usually sided with the Soviet Union, whereas Israel—with the United States.

Fig. 4 - John Kennedy and King Saud bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud with daughter Princess Dalal, Palm Beach, Florida, 1962.

Cultural Differences between the US and the Middle East

There are similarities and differences between the United States and the Middle East. The Middle East is also ethnically, culturally, and religiously diverse. The multitude of ethnic groups includes those who have lived in this region for centuries and more recent arrivals. The differences have not prevented the US from creating partnerships in the region.

Ethnicities

The Middle East is home to many ethnic groups, including:

• Arabs
• Jews
• Assyrians
• Kurds
• Armenians
• Greeks
• Turkmen
• Nubians

Religion

The Middle East is the birthplace of the three largest religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Smaller religious groups include the Druze. Each essential religion features several denominations. Some countries, like Saudi Arabia and Israel, are majority Sunni and Jewish, respectively. Other countries, like Lebanon, are more evenly balanced between Shia and Sunni Muslims and Christian groups.

US and Middle East: Conflicts

Several conflicts in the Middle East and North Africa involved the US. In many disputes, the US supplied one or more sides with weapons, as was the case with Israel after the 1960s. In other conflicts, the US was involved directly or as part of NATO, as was the case with the NATO invasion of Libya in 2011.

Fig. 5 - Iraqi tanks during the Gulf War.

Conflict Examples: Timeline

US Involvement in the Middle East: Pros and Cons

Historians and political strategists have different views about the US involvement in the Middle East.

Pros

The pros are:

• The US maintains mutually beneficial relationships with its partners in the region based on trade and cooperation, especially in the energy sector;
• Historically, the US mediated the Middle Eastern peace process, such as the 1978 Camp David Accords between Israel and Egypt.

Cons

The cons include:

• The US has also played a destabilizing role in the Middle East, especially after 1991 in countries like Iraq and Syria;
• Military aid to Israel in the billions of dollars does not truly serve US interests.