The US has vital strategic interests in the Arabian Gulf
region and the Middle East, which have increased since
Richard Nixon was at the White House. US policy
makers recognize that the stability of the region and
strong relations with regional actors are of paramount
importance. The Middle East is closely associated
with US national security. Official circles and strategic
research institutes are of the opinion that US ties with
the Middle East have three objectives: preserving Israel’s
security, maintaining easy access to Arabian Gulf oil,
and securing the stability of the region in general.
US policy toward the region went through three
phases: Cold War; post-Kuwait liberation; and the
third phase, still in its infancy, based on the idea that
the Middle East will not be any more stable in the
foreseeable future, and that there are alternative oil
sources around the world.