How is the US changing its approach in the Middle East?

RESHAPING THE ALLIANCE

The US Secretary of State’s trip to a series of Arab countries comes at a time when the US presence in the region is increasing. Mr. Pompeo is scheduled to leave the US on August 23, visiting Israel, Bahrain, Oman, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Sudan. This itinerary is still incomplete, as the US Secretary of State also wants to go to Qatar to meet with representatives of the Taliban to discuss the launch of intra-Afghan peace talks.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (left) visits Israel and a series of Arab countries from August 23. Photo: Getty

This diplomatic event took place in the context of the US having just scored positive points with its role as a mediator, helping two important allies, Israel and the UAE, reach a historic peace agreement. Most of the US's allies in the region welcomed this move, considering it the beginning of a new era between the Jewish state and the Arab world, building peace and common prosperity. Therefore, this content is certainly on the agenda of Mr. Pompeo's trip. The immediate plan will be for a solemn signing ceremony at the Rose Garden, Trump White House in September according to President Donald's intention.

In addition, the US Secretary of State’s trip has a larger mission, which is to arrange and reshape Washington’s alliance relationships. As a “bridge builder”, the US not only connects Israel with the UAE but also hopes for more. The UAE is the third Arab country to establish diplomatic relations with Israel, after Egypt in 1978 and Jordan in 1994. Many diplomats predict that Bahrain and Oman will be the next two countries to “overcome the curse” and accept normalization with the Jewish country.

That’s why both countries are on the itinerary of Mike Pompeo and then White House adviser Jared Kushner, who is considered the architect of Trump’s Middle East peace plan, with a visit in late August. Encouraging more Arab countries to make peace with Israel shows that the US is accelerating its strategy of realigning its allies with a new approach. The goal of this plan is to both strengthen the US’s long-term role and mobilize forces to isolate and deal with Iran.

US President Donald Trump announced that Israel and the UAE would normalize relations under US mediation. Photo: Reuters

In a recent tough move, the Trump administration has decided to activate the so-called “reversal mechanism” to re-impose international sanctions against Tehran. This step not only puts pressure on Iran but also shows the US’s last-ditch effort to cancel the 2015 nuclear deal, in line with Trump’s pledge when he was elected. Observers say that the US urgently needs a common and unified front in the Middle East in the confrontation with Iran. Mobilizing Israel and Arab countries to stand on that front is the theme that the head of US diplomacy brought with him on this trip.

BUILDING A NEW STRATEGY

Despite policy differences, US administrations, whether Democratic or Republican, from President George W. Bush to Barack Obama to Donald Trump, have struggled to balance the evolving security objectives in the Middle East. Policy objectives are not only to reduce the risk of a terrorist attack on US soil, but also to destroy al Qaeda and the Islamic State wherever they take root; not only to roll back Iranian influence in strategically important areas, but also to pressure the Iranian regime into change.

It can be seen that the US administrations of different periods have applied many political approaches to this region. After the war launched by the Bush administration in Iraq in 2003 did not bring much results, even becoming a "quagmire" causing loss of human lives and money, US policymakers applied another approach: Delegating power to proxy organizations.

For decades, the US has maintained a presence in the Middle East by sending troops to the region. Photo: AFP

The wars in Syria, Libya or Yemen are typical examples - where the US does not want to directly participate in the wars but is willing to support, train, provide weapons and intelligence to the forces fighting in these countries. However, these proxy wars have not achieved the US's strategic goals - in some cases, they have even backfired. Iran's role in the region has not only not decreased but has increased significantly, becoming an indispensable force on the political "chessboard" of Syria or Yemen. Such a realistic perception forces the US to consider a different strategy if it wants to maintain its presence and influence in the Middle East.

The dispatch of senior diplomats and advisors to the Middle East on this occasion is proof that President Donald Trump is taking a new approach in policy towards this region. Israel is an important link in the US strategy in the Middle East. By mobilizing the Arab world to stand with Israel, President Trump is directing the attention and concerns of Arab countries to security issues and Iran instead of concerns from Israel or protecting Palestine as before.

For now, these are calculations to serve Mr. Trump’s goal of running for a second term as president. Because with his current moves, Mr. Trump can easily win the sympathy of Jewish or Jewish voters in the US - those who have great influence on American politics, through dominating policy making and especially presidential elections and electors with a hardline “hawk” stance on Iran... Further, that will be the Trump administration’s long-term strategy, creating the premise to implement the “grand plan for Middle East peace” in case he wins after the election next November./.

The US notified the United Nations of the activation of the international sanctions regime against Iran on August 20. Photo: USA Today