Paper for international study class - Essay Example

Due to these many problems of war and terrorism, the United States of America has severally made interventions in countries like Iran and Iraq. These interventions have been to restore peace and tranquility in the economic resource endowed region that accounts for about 50% of all the oil consumed globally. It should be remembered that the United States foreign policy in the Mid-East dates back to the Barbary Wars in the early years of US existence. The system became more pronounced after the Second World War and has since then affected many ways in the affairs of Middle East and their relations with the West.

During the cold war, the American policy aimed at curbing the influence of the Communist USSR through support to anti-communist countries in the region (Toaldo 23). In particular, US supported Israel against the Arab states that were majorly sponsored by the Soviet Union. To ensure the Western access to the Gulf oil in the 1960s and 1970s, the US became the major security patron of the Persian Gulf replacing the UK. The activities of the US in the Middle East intensified after 2001 9/11 attacks.

An emphasis on counter-terrorism was declared and included in the US foreign policy. Although the relations between the US and the countries in the Middle East may be misconceived, the US has had Diplomatic relations with these countries except Iran. In 1979, the Iranian Revolution brought into power a regime that was completely anti-American derailing the relations between these two nations. The efforts of US activities in the Middle East including the most recent endeavour have been aimed at resolving the Israeli-Arab conflict and preventing the regional spread of weapons of mass destruction.

These goals have been in line with the objectives of the UN Security Council that actively discourages the making and use of nuclear weapons.