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One of the interesting foreign policy discussions in the US is the sense that the US should stop dealing with the Middle East or that the Middle East is a kind of waste of time, and doesn’t matter “like it used to”...this is fatigue from conflicts but not good policy thought
Replies include claims that the region no longer matter due to US not needing oil or relying on energy needs in region. But the region is important for many reasons, because it links Europe, Asia and Africa, due to migration, extremism, non-governed spaces, conflicts, influence
Look at the fact that China, Russia and other countries think this region is important, the idea that the US will just neglect a part of the world where it has had huge military bases and influence over decades is strange...it's more about fatigue than a reading of history.
Now it is true that regions do have different strategic sugnificance over time, such as Southeast Asia which the US poured soldiers into in the 1960s...and then walked away from also due to fatigue of conflicts. But I'd suggest MidEast is different
The region is different because countries like Turkey, Iran and the Gulf group (Saudi, UAE, Bahrain etc), have a lot of resources, power and influence far beyond their borders and what they are doing impacts the world.
One example is Ankara's play for a larger role in the East Med...that affects France, Italy, Greece, Cyprus, Israel, Egypt, the UAE, Libya etc...it's big.
Iran's role is very important also...regardless of US "energy" dependence.
Iran's role is very important also...regardless of US "energy" dependence.
The conflict issue is important, and it's not just "endless wars"...if there were as many conflicts in South America affecting other continents and countries...then it would be logical to focus there as well and not just write it off.
In a globalized world a narrow regional view is a false reading of history. You can't just write off a part of the world without realizing others will enter the vacuum and affect areas around the world, due to globalization. This isn't the 19th century...
In the 19th century the colonial powers used to invest big resources in things that seem less relevant now, like strategic coaling stations, "guano" islands, whaling...wars over opium or tea...you never know how one thing can impact others, such as the role of the Balkans pre-WWI
That is why you can't just say "I'm tired of this region"...especially when US adversaries are not saying that. China's Belt and Road sees the region's role...Russia does...and others.
