(Washington Insider Magazine) – For decades the United States and its oil-producing Arab partners have had an unofficial agreement that, in exchange for a steady stream of crude oil to the world economy, America would ensure protection in the region. Over two-thirds of the world’s oil supply is found in this region. The arrangement was so “cozy” that US requests for changing the volume of the crude output if the price per barrel were not economically advantageous to the US were often agreed to by the Arab states.
With the Trump Presidency policies, the US was essentially energy independent, without the need for reliance on the Arabs for crude oil, but remained a stabilizing presence in the area with strategic military bases.
With the advent of the Biden Administration and its reversal of virtually every one of Trump’s policies, the US is once again dependent on the Middle East for crude oil to supply its energy needs.
The Biden Administration’s withdrawal of support from the Abraham Accords, and its pursuit of reinstating the Iran nuclear deal, has resulted in suspicion of America’s commitment to its previous levels of cooperation and leadership in the region. Biden’s removal of the Iran-backed Houthis rebels from its terrorist organization list has emboldened them to commit violence and continue their activities in opposition to Saudi Arabia.
Mr. Biden’s disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan, arming Isis with billions of dollars in the state of the art American weaponry which was left behind, has added to the perception that America is not the ally or leader in the region that it once was. In pursuit of reinstating the Iran Nuclear Agreement, he agreed to lift the economic sanctions which Trump had put into place. In addition, Biden reinstated millions of dollars in aid which Trump had suspended, for aid and construction in the Palestinian areas.
At the heart of the Trump Administration’s policy was to pursue “normalization” of relations between Israel and long time adversaries in the region, towards the goal of creation of a coalition of countries to improve the economies and communications in the region, and build strength to stand against Iranian aggression by the state and its allies. This approach was successful in bypassing the seemingly impossible and longstanding feud over recognition of Israel as a sovereign state. The Abraham Accords were implemented with several countries signing on, and more “in the wings”.
The progress which was made up until the Biden Administration’s radical change in policy seems fragile. The Middle East seems to be de-stabilizing again, as Houthis attacked forces in the United Arab Emirates as Biden was being inaugurated as President. In addition, Hamas fighters recently launched over 4,000 missiles into Israel, declaring they had “destroyed the project of co-existence”, according to news reports, referring to the Abraham Accords.
Biden’s attempts to return to the policies of Mr. Trump’s predecessor seem weak and outdated at this time. He may need to reconsider a steadier and more balanced strategy to ease the concerns of our long-time allies in the region, especially now that the US is dependent upon them for our energy needs.