Renewing U. S. security policy in the Middle East / Shelly Culbertson, Howard J. Schatz, Stephanie Stewart.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Culbertson, Shelly, author.

Schatz, Howard J., author.

Stewart, Stephanie, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Diplomacy.

Economic development--Middle East.

Economic development.

Technical assistance, American--Middle East.

Technical assistance, American.

National security--United States.

National security.

United States--Military policy--21st century.

United States.

United States--Foreign relations--Middle East.

Middle East--Foreign relations--United States.

Middle East.

Physical Description:

xix, 94 pages ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

Santa Monica, Calif. : RAND Corporation, [2022]

Summary:

This report offers a new framing of U.S. national security interests in the Middle East in light of changed political, security, and economic contexts. The authors argue for a new approach to managing U.S. security interests in the region that avoids the pattern of recurring reactive military engagements that have drawn in the United States for decades. This approach recognizes that the Middle East sits at the crossroads of multiple vital U.S. interests and that problems that start in the Middle East spread worldwide. The authors contend that the United States should not deprioritize or disengage from the Middle East but should instead manage the full range of its interests there. These include the traditional goals of preventing terrorism, protecting global energy markets, and dealing with Iranian nuclear proliferation and other malign activities, as well as additional interests related to addressing great power competition, regional conflicts, the human and financial costs of conflict, civilian displacement, climate change, the well-being of allies, and chronic instability. To safeguard its interests, the United States should rely less on military operations and more on diplomacy, economic development, and technical assistance. A reshaped U.S. strategy that both maintains the Middle East as a priority and rebalances military and civilian tools can help steer the region from one where costs to the United States prevail to one where benefits to the American people-as well as people in the Middle East-accrue. Completed before Russia's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the report has not been revised subsequently.

Contents:

Machine generated contents note: ch. 1 Introduction

A Changing Context in the United States Requires New U.S. Security Approaches Toward the Middle East

A Changing Context in the Middle East Also Calls for New U.S. Security Approaches Toward the Region

Approach and Roadmap to This Report

ch. 2 A Top-Ten List of U.S. Security Interests in the Middle East

Terrorist Groups Are Degraded, but They Still Have Capabilities

While the United States Now Relies Less on Middle East Energy, Its Allies Still Depend on It

The Middle East Is a Hot Spot for Nuclear Proliferation Threats

The Middle East Is a Theater for Great Power Competition

Regional Conflicts and Aggression Strain World Order and Affect U.S. Security

Militarized Approaches Have Had High Human and Financial Costs

Civilian Displacement Is Harmful and Destabilizing

Climate Change Impacts Exacerbate Other Security Challenges

The United States Benefits from the Well-being of Its Allies and Partners

Societal Dysfunction Leads to Chronic Instability with Worldwide Repercussions

ch. 3 Conclusions and Recommendations

Develop a U.S. Interagency Middle East Strategy That Keeps the Region as a Priority While Relying More on Civilian Tools

Develop Substitute Approaches to Manage Risks When Reducing the U.S. Military Footprint in the Middle East

Maintain an Integrated, Long-Term Strategy with Regard to Iran

Mediate the End of Conflicts and Broker Pragmatic Solutions to Civilian Displacement

Focus U.S. Development Assistance on Addressing Two Main Causes of Arab Spring Protests

Improve Trust in the United States as a Strong, Effective, Reliable Partner of Choice

Maintain an Integrated Program for Countering Violent Extremism

Facilitate Regional Interactions, Mutual Assistance, and Security Dialogues

Invest in Encouraging the Linchpin Countries of Iraq and Tunisia on the Path to Success

Looking Ahead: A New U.S. Approach to a New Middle East.

Notes:

"Prepared for the Office of the Secretary of Defense" -- Title page.

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN:

9781977407221

1977407226

OCLC:

1346152370