Fear of US abandonment driving Middle Eastern states to build diplomatic alliances
Regional powers including Pakistan pursue multilateral approaches as hard security remains dominated by Washington and Tehran's proxy network
L'essentiel
- Fear of US abandonment is pushing Middle Eastern states to build diplomatic mass rather than integrated military blocs, according to defence analysts.
- A 'mixed system' is emerging where multilateral formats increasingly handle grand strategic questions while hard security remains dominated by Washington and Tehran's proxy network.
- Regional powers including Pakistan are pressing for a negotiated settlement to the Iran war, with Islamabad playing mediator between Tehran and Washington and serving as trusted representative for regional partners, particularly Riyadh.
Résumé généré par IA
Pourquoi c'est important
The article discusses emerging diplomatic strategies in the Middle East amid concerns about US commitment to the region. Regional states are seeking to build diplomatic capacity to compensate for potential reduced US security guarantees, while still relying on Washington for hard security matters.
"Fear of US abandonment is pushing states to build more diplomatic mass, even if they cannot yet build an integrated military bloc," said Andreas Krieg, an associate professor of defence studies at King's College London who previously advised Qatar's armed forces on behalf of the UK defence ministry. "A mixed system" was emerging, he said – one in which multilateral formats "increasingly handle the grand strategic questions" while the hard security balance would still be dominated by Washington and whatever survives of Tehran's proxy network. Together, the four are pressing hard for a negotiated settlement to the Iran war, with Islamabad playing the dual role of mediator between Tehran and Washington, and a trusted representative for its regional partners: above all Riyadh.
Questions ouvertes
- Which specific countries are part of the four pressing for negotiated settlement
- What concrete diplomatic initiatives have been proposed
- How will Tehran's proxy network evolve
