Why 'Leading from Behind' in the Middle East Is Not Enough

April 27, 2015 Topic: Security Region: Middle East Tags: AmericaDefenseObama

Why 'Leading from Behind' in the Middle East Is Not Enough

The Obama administration will need to do more to assuage regional allies' security concerns.

The Arab League recently announced its intent to create a joint defense force of 40,000 troops from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Sudan and Jordan. The force will include an air command, naval command and a land operations command based in Egypt under the command of a Saudi general. Former Supreme Allied Commander James Stavridis has referred to the defense force as an “Arab NATO” intended to provide a collective response to Iran’s hegemonic ambitions that makes a Sunni-Shiite war in the region more likely.

These are the predictable results of “leading from behind.” The Obama administration should not be surprised that its partners are challenging U.S. commitment for their security interests and taking matters into their own hands when the commitment is not forthcoming. Jordan’s King Abdullah II recently remarked that, although the bilateral relationship with the United States remains strong, “at the end of the day, I think I know what’s best for my country and for the region, and I think a blunt and honest discussion with friends is always much better than being wishy-washy.” This is not necessarily a bad thing; however, it does suggest an increasing likelihood that partners will pursue their own security initiatives that are not aligned with the U.S. strategy as seen in Iraq, Syria and Yemen.

It is true that the United States cannot solve the Middle East’s problems alone and partnership is critical to achieving regional stability. Instead of “pivoting away” from the region, the Obama administration should instead make a more concerted effort to reassure partners, confront Iran in its pursuit for regional hegemony and expand counterterrorism operations against ISIS and other terror groups. This will require a more active strategic approach, and there are some indications that the administration is pursuing this path, albeit while remaining wary about increasing its military footprint. For example, Obama is considering formalizing U.S. defense commitments with the Gulf States and has invited the Gulf Cooperation Council leadership to Camp David for a summit next month to discuss their regional-security concerns. Additionally, he said that due to the large disparity in military spending, “Iran understands that they cannot fight us” and has made clear that, even if a final nuclear deal is reached, the United States will “remain vigilant” in countering Iran’s sponsorship of terrorism and support for “proxies” that threaten the sovereignty of America’s partners in the region. Finally, despite the chaos in Yemen, the United States continues to effectively target senior AQAP leaders with drone strikes. Time will tell if this represents a minor adjustment to the “leading from behind” approach, or if a more robust strategy revision is underway.

James Cook is an Associate Professor of National Security Affairs at the U.S. Naval War College. The views expressed here are his own.

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