This week I would like to reference and analyze the New York Times article, “Biden and Mother Nature Have Reshaped the Middle East.” To begin, this was an interesting read with the ongoing crisis in the Middle East. The author, Thomas Friedman, provided and predicted two reasons for an unstable Middle East from 2021, United States withdrawal and Mother Nature.
The more classes I take in this program, the more I understand realism and do not trust alliances. The United States is as guilty as any one in these aspects. The United States sought revenge for 9/11 while attempting to create a political system for the people of Afghanistan. After the death of Osama Bin Laden and the realization that they could not change a decades old system, they abandoned those in Afghanistan that they partnered with for the past two decades. This sent a message to all other countries in the Middle East that the United States will act on behalf of the United States only. This is showing in today’s climate with Saudi Arabia, U.A.E. and other countries in the Middle East seeking alliances with Iran out of fear. With the United States withdrawal from the Middle East, that means less protection to countries that once acted in their interest. If the current conflict expands, will they act in a country’s interest that is building a reputation of abandonment?
Mother Nature is now the diplomatic hegemony of the Middle East. An already low water environment got worse with a severe drought that crippled the region. This caused riots over water and food in Iran and other countries to become dependent on water-rich ones. This created an advantage for Israel who was able to provide freshwater to countries such as Jordan. Israel was criticized for this because Jordan provides Iran with oil, an enemy of Israel. With a growing world sentiment of going green, the Middle East is seeking ways to stay relevant and maintain the dependency the rest of the world has on them. The relationships in this region have revolved around resources and does not seem to change anytime soon.
One reply on “Consalvo Week 9”
Justin,
With global climate change, a LOT is changing and not just in the Middle East region. But Friedman was trying to point out that, rather than continuing their pointless and fruitless conflict, climate change is forcing historical enemies to find ways to cooperate. And things are changing for the US as well–e.g., we are no longer nearly as reliant on Middle East oil and this does change our political calculus. But that said, I cannot see the US ever abandoning Israel, the only reliable, democratic ally it has in the region. –Professor Wallerstein