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The end of american hegemony in the Middle East
The U.S. power in the Middle East are declining, however, discuss the possibility of a new cold war in the region is incorrect; powers such as Russia and Turkey are simply taking advantage of the power vacuum in the Middle East – English analyst writes Chris Phillips
A recent agreement to purchase weapons, signed between Russia and Syria, has dangled the prospect of a new Cold War in the Middle East. For example, Josh Landis in Foreign Policy suggests that unconditional U.S. support to Israel will return to his role Moscow pre-1989 when it supported and provided weapons to the enemies of Tel Aviv and Washington.
Yet the return of Russia to Syria, is being realized through the sale of MiG-29 or the construction of a port area on the Syrian coast, there appears to be the action of a superpower capable of challenging U.S. hegemony in the period as 1945-1989, but rather that of a regional power, determined to take advantage of the growing power vacuum in the region. Instead of a new Cold War bipolar situation, the regional powers such as Russia and Turkey are increasing their influence at the expense of the United States.
The idea of a new Cold War has gained popularity in some quarters from the wrong reasons. The same Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said in ‘The Republic’ last week that “Russia is reasserting. And the Cold War is simply a natural reaction to the American attempt to dominate the world. ”
In the same interview he spoke of the existence of a new triple alliance between Syria, Turkey and Iran, which would be part of the “Northern Alliance” that Damascus had tried to build against Israel and the United States, and to ‘ within which Russia is now assigned to the role of superpower benefactor.
As the leader of a small power that seeks to challenge the hegemonic world power, is in the interests of Assad exaggerate the strength of this alliance. However in reality there is no unified and cohesive bloc. Russia is putting in place pragmatic national agenda that will enable it to maximize its influence without having to compare with the United States. This is a key foreign policy to Medvedev. A recent dispute with Tehran because of Russian support for new UN sanctions on Iran proposed by Washington certainly does not show a united front anti-americano/anti-israeliano.
Although Turkey is not bound by any deployment. Damascus would consider a resumption of relations of force in Ankara with Iraq, Iran and Syria as a fact of crucial importance for any new deployment. However, the policy of “zero problems with neighbors led” Turkey is not limited to these countries to its southern border. Turkey is trying to impose its influence and win new markets in the region, including Israel, to meet the needs of its rapidly expanding economy.
Although the rhetoric of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has become more populist and anti-Israel from the Gaza War of 2008-2009, the close trade relations, economic and military between Turkey and Israel are showing no signs of abating. Like Russia, Turkey is pursuing its own interests by asserting its influence throughout the Middle East, not only as a reference point blocking anti-American and anti-Israeli.
Although the return to bipolar alignments of the Cold War in the Middle East is unlikely, international relations in the region are changing. The U.S. power is declining. Although Washington remains the only superpower, the quagmire in which the U.S. is in Iraq and Afghanistan has highlighted the limits of American ambitions, while the economic crisis has forced the Obama Administration to focus its energies on other sectors.
While the Bush era saw the assertion of American hegemony in the region and the attempt to crush the many challenges posed by countries like Syria and Iraq of Saddam Hussein, the Middle East today is characterized by a power vacuum caused from the partial American withdrawal, which is filled by medium regional powers that have the ability to assert himself. This new situation is exemplified by the recent nuclear deal reached by Turkey with Iran and Brazil.
Stephen Walt (Professor of International Relations at Harvard University (NDT)) stressed that this change in the balance of power is happening globally, as, for example, gross domestic product of Asia already exceeds that of the U.S. or Europe. As in previous years, it seems that the Middle East could become the microcosm of these international changes. If, on the one hand, the era of American is coming to an end – a process that was hastened by unnecessary wars and poor economic prudence – the other is much more likely that international relations in the Middle East reflect the emerging multipolar world rather than return to a situation of cold war bipolar.
In this situation, not only Russia and Turkey will increase their sphere of influence in the region, but also China, India and Brazil will try to carve out a role, most likely turning its satellite states less claims in respect of democratic reforms and their reconciliation with Israel than does Washington. The intensification of the relationship between Saudi Arabia and China could anticipate this future development.
But this moment has not arrived yet. The United States remains a superpower that can lead to important changes in the region at will. However, the recent moves of Russia and Turkey in the Middle East show a new determination by the regional powers to follow its own path in defiance of U.S. wishes, and that this be done through military agreements, business or diplomatic moves. Although a new Cold War is unlikely, the period dell’indiscussa American hegemony in the Middle East could be close to conclusion.
Chris Phillips has researched Arab identity to Syria and Jordan, writes regularly for the Guardian, and has spent several years in the Middle East
The U.S. power in the Middle East are declining, however, discuss the possibility of a new cold war in the region is incorrect; powers such as Russia and Turkey are simply taking advantage of the power vacuum in the Middle East – English analyst writes Chris Phillips
A recent agreement to purchase weapons, signed between Russia and Syria, has dangled the prospect of a new Cold War in the Middle East. For example, Josh Landis in Foreign Policy suggests that unconditional U.S. support to Israel will return to his role Moscow pre-1989 when it supported and provided weapons to the enemies of Tel Aviv and Washington.
Yet the return of Russia to Syria, is being realized through the sale of MiG-29 or the construction of a port area on the Syrian coast, there appears to be the action of a superpower capable of challenging U.S. hegemony in the period as 1945-1989, but rather that of a regional power, determined to take advantage of the growing power vacuum in the region. Instead of a new Cold War bipolar situation, the regional powers such as Russia and Turkey are increasing their influence at the expense of the United States.
The idea of a new Cold War has gained popularity in some quarters from the wrong reasons. The same Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said in ‘The Republic’ last week that “Russia is reasserting. And the Cold War is simply a natural reaction to the American attempt to dominate the world. ”
In the same interview he spoke of the existence of a new triple alliance between Syria, Turkey and Iran, which would be part of the “Northern Alliance” that Damascus had tried to build against Israel and the United States, and to ‘ within which Russia is now assigned to the role of superpower benefactor.
As the leader of a small power that seeks to challenge the hegemonic world power, is in the interests of Assad exaggerate the strength of this alliance. However in reality there is no unified and cohesive bloc. Russia is putting in place pragmatic national agenda that will enable it to maximize its influence without having to compare with the United States. This is a key foreign policy to Medvedev. A recent dispute with Tehran because of Russian support for new UN sanctions on Iran proposed by Washington certainly does not show a united front anti-americano/anti-israeliano.
Although Turkey is not bound by any deployment. Damascus would consider a resumption of relations of force in Ankara with Iraq, Iran and Syria as a fact of crucial importance for any new deployment. However, the policy of “zero problems with neighbors led” Turkey is not limited to these countries to its southern border. Turkey is trying to impose its influence and win new markets in the region, including Israel, to meet the needs of its rapidly expanding economy.
Although the rhetoric of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has become more populist and anti-Israel from the Gaza War of 2008-2009, the close trade relations, economic and military between Turkey and Israel are showing no signs of abating. Like Russia, Turkey is pursuing its own interests by asserting its influence throughout the Middle East, not only as a reference point blocking anti-American and anti-Israeli.
Although the return to bipolar alignments of the Cold War in the Middle East is unlikely, international relations in the region are changing. The U.S. power is declining. Although Washington remains the only superpower, the quagmire in which the U.S. is in Iraq and Afghanistan has highlighted the limits of American ambitions, while the economic crisis has forced the Obama Administration to focus its energies on other sectors.
While the Bush era saw the assertion of American hegemony in the region and the attempt to crush the many challenges posed by countries like Syria and Iraq of Saddam Hussein, the Middle East today is characterized by a power vacuum caused from the partial American withdrawal, which is filled by medium regional powers that have the ability to assert himself. This new situation is exemplified by the recent nuclear deal reached by Turkey with Iran and Brazil.
Stephen Walt (Professor of International Relations at Harvard University (NDT)) stressed that this change in the balance of power is happening globally, as, for example, gross domestic product of Asia already exceeds that of the U.S. or Europe. As in previous years, it seems that the Middle East could become the microcosm of these international changes. If, on the one hand, the era of American is coming to an end – a process that was hastened by unnecessary wars and poor economic prudence – the other is much more likely that international relations in the Middle East reflect the emerging multipolar world rather than return to a situation of cold war bipolar.
In this situation, not only Russia and Turkey will increase their sphere of influence in the region, but also China, India and Brazil will try to carve out a role, most likely turning its satellite states less claims in respect of democratic reforms and their reconciliation with Israel than does Washington. The intensification of the relationship between Saudi Arabia and China could anticipate this future development.
But this moment has not arrived yet. The United States remains a superpower that can lead to important changes in the region at will. However, the recent moves of Russia and Turkey in the Middle East show a new determination by the regional powers to follow its own path in defiance of U.S. wishes, and that this be done through military agreements, business or diplomatic moves. Although a new Cold War is unlikely, the period dell’indiscussa American hegemony in the Middle East could be close to conclusion.
Chris Phillips has researched Arab identity to Syria and Jordan, writes regularly for the Guardian, and has spent several years in the Middle East
