Great power rivalries have shaped the history of North Africa and the Middle East. The failure of the Ottoman Empire after World War I allow two nations, Britain and France to create new borders in the region. At the end of the century, the United States became a major player. It was the time when Arabs and Israel both opposed each other. 

The United States decided in 1990, to station troops in the Middle East after Iraq invaded Kuwait. Furthermore, in 2003 the United States invaded Iraq and became the powerful country in the region. However, after this leadership, the US faced many complexities. Iran’s influence grew, nonstate groups became stronger, and Israeli-Palestine conflicts remained unsettled. Many allies of the US are also not sure about the security commitment of this nation. This situation creates an unstable environment in the country that negatively impacts the people in the region. 

The United States, Russia, and China are competing for powers, and for this purpose, the Middle East and North Africa(MENA) is an important area. China is making efforts to get energy from the Gulf. At the same time, Russia’s main focus is to support its allies and weaken the United States’ control in the region. 

All of these nations see how important MENA is. It can not be safe for global peace but also has economic chances, especially with its new generation. This mix of risks and opportunities is why these major powers are drawn to the region, seeking military bases, alliances, trade deals, and investment options to boost their influence.

Recently the United States has been paying attention more to Asia. This policy shift of the US making people question why it should stay involved in the Middle East and North Africa(MENA). Some in Washington think that Russia and China are taking advantage of this situation because the United States is pulling back.  

One of example of this change is the agreement between Iran and Saudi Arabia. This agreement was signed in 2023. However, by closely seeing it is clear that things are more complex than before. 

Different countries in MENA are engaging with the world in their ways, leading to different results in the region. This means the US isn’t just stepping back; it’s dealing with a complex situation where its role is changing. To understand what will happen with US involvement in MENA, we need to look at these different ways countries are interacting with each other.

The Arabian Peninsula, including oil-rich Saudi Arabia and war-torn Yemen, has acquired worldwide interest due to its crucial presence in trade and security. Key maritime routes like the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Strait of Hormuz are important for international shipping. But these paths are also vulnerable to terrorist attacks. Recently the shipping cost has risen due to the recent strikes of Houthis on ships. This significant enhancement is about 44% in December 2023. Due to this increment, the Russian oil export to India is also affected because of the limited access to the Suez Canal. 

In this region, the three nations, the US, China, and Russia are opposing each other for influence. No doubt that the United States has a strong collaboration with Gulf nations. While the tensions are growing with China and Russia. 

Between 2012 and 2022, the US had more state visits to Gulf countries than Russia and China combined. Even though Russia claims strong relations with the UAE, their interactions remain fewer compared to those of the United States, showing the complex geopolitics of the Arabian Peninsula.

China and the Arabian Peninsula have increased their economic ties through trade. The oil demand of China is rising forcing this nation to focus on energy security. At the same time trade with the United  States is decreasing. This reduction is due to the US shale bloom. 

Till 2022, the security connections of the United States in the region were strengthened. Arms exports to Gulf nations like Saudi Arabia and the UAE increased dramatically, with Kuwait seeing over a ninetyfold rise in US arms. While China’s arms sales have not increased much. 

Some have the opinion that the US is pulling back from the Middle East. But the reality is more complex. Even though the trade with China is growing. The US still has strong security relations there. This represents how the region is important for worldwide stability.