Entrusting Security of the Gulf to Persia and Saudi Arabia - Essay Example

Entrusting Security of the Gulf to Persia and Saudi Arabia Introduction Richard Nixon’s 6 years of presidency remain widely viewed as critical in American diplomatic, military, and political history. Before he rose to presidency, presidential politics were dominated by liberal democratic coalition. Large-scale military interventions marked the American foreign policy. After he left the office, the presidential politics were dominated by liberal democratic coalition and the American foreign policy was now dominated by aid to allied forces . Although his presidency was cut short by the Watergate, it was epochal as he had intended. Thesis Statement It is paramount that Nixon’s doctrine did not work out as previously planned because U.S foreign policies failed to convince the Arab world to unite. Entrusting Security of the Gulf to Persia and Saudi Arabia International Relations Vs Foreign Policies International relations marked Richard Nixon’s doctrine at the helm of United States’ presidency. Foreign policy relations between the U.S and the Persian Gulf have remained positive due to the region’s wealth in terms of natural resources. Nixon’s Doctrine aimed at ensuring that its allies took care of their military defense.1 The countries included Persia and Saudi Arabia in order to protect the region’s natural resources. Peace and Unity Nixon’s Doctrine aimed at ensuring that the world enjoyed peace and unity. In his words, entrusting the security of the Gulf to Persia and Saudi Arabia would bring all Arab nations in the region together. A peaceful Gulf region would ensure flexible trading activities between the West and the Middle East.2 Protection of Natural Resources Protecting the region’s natural resources remained a key element of the doctrine. The region boasted of vast regions rich in minerals. To be specific, Saudi Arabia alone contributed almost a third of the total crude oil traded. Today, the country is the largest contributor of crude in the international market. In this light, the U.S decided to entrust security to the two nations in order to maintain stability in the region. International Trade and Global Economy Persian Gulf and the entire region would remain important trade partners with the Western Countries. Maintaining peace in the region would be fundamental to ensuring oil prices across the remained stable.3 The U.S and other western states were wary of previous world oil crises that almost crippled the world’s economy. The Issue of Nuclear Weapons The threat of nuclear warfare characterized Nixon’s Doctrine. The U.S and her allies were wary of other nations developing nuclear weapons. These nations poised security threats not only to the U.S but other countries around the globe. For example, Iraq wanted to monopolize the oil business around the Gulf but the U.S intervened through military action against Iraq. Some countries in the region claimed that the U.S’s interest was oil security. However, the U.S wanted to reduce security threats posed by countries developing nuclear weapons.4 Terrorism and Security Approaches The Persian Gulf had been engulfed by different terrorist groups that posed a security threat to the region. The U.S sought to make sure that the region enjoyed peace. The U.S could provide military help in case terrorism deteriorated in the region. In addition, the U.S was hopeful that Persia and Saudi Arabia would be able to convince neighboring countries to unite.5 United countries in the Gulf would ensure security for each nation and its natural resources. The U.S entrusted itself to the two countries as many Arab countries do not trust the West. The presence of the U.S in the Gulf relates to the protection of oil fields from attacks. Terrorist attacks in the Gulf target oil fields because many tend to think that the U.S and other Western countries rely heavily on oil imported from the region. For many years, Iraq has experienced the problem of oil infrastructure destruction by terrorists. Recurring attacks on Iraq’s oil facilities resulted in huge economic losses.6 Nixon’s Doctrine of entrusting security of the Gulf to Persia and Saudi Arabia failed to meet expectations. The region had been engulfed in domestic conflicts as well as terrorist attacks problems. Entrusting security to the two nations would mean that oil prices could be manipulated by the region.7 However, the doctrine aimed at ensuring the region remained peaceful and united. Failure of the Policy Cold war was at its peak during the period, thus the U.S and U.S.S.R were bitter rivals. The two nations were fighting for supremacy and control of the global economy. U.S.S.R succeded to in occupying Afghanistan. In addition, the Soviet Union supported Yemen in terms of food and military aid. The U.S faced challenges from the U.S.S.R as the union won the support of Asian countries such as China and North Korea.8 The policy did not give the U.S greater flexibility to respond to new diplomatic realities especially in the Gulf region. The policy’s goal was to bring America’s commitments in line with its resources, but failed to pledge enough aid to countries threated by communism. The doctrine aimed at fighting communism. However, China ceased further cooperation with the U.S due to extension of its troops in Cambodia as well as its invasion of Vietnam.9 Conclusion The Gulf region remains significant to the Western powerhouses due to its wealth in natural resources. About 72 percent of the world’s proven oil reserves lies in this region. The U.S and other Western nations would support the region in terms of military aid and personnel to ensure peace and unity prevails. Richard Nixon’s doctrine would be useful in uniting nations in the Gulf region. The doctrine did not win support from Arab world and other Asian countries. The doctrine brought new U.S foreign policies that deteriorated international relations especially from the Middle East and the Far East. The U.S.S.R threatened U.S’s operations of bringing countries in the Gulf Region together. Bibliography Al-Kahlil, Samir, Michael McNay, and Quentin McDermott. 2004. The Gulf crisis: the first sixty days. [Manchester, England?]: Guardian. Fain, W. 2008. American Ascendance and British Retreat in the Persian Gulf Region. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. Kaufman, Scott. 2001. Confronting Communism: U.S. and British policies toward China. Columbia: University of Missouri Press. Kimball, Jeffrey. 2006. "The Nixon Doctrine: A Saga of Misunderstanding". Presidential Studies Quarterly. 36 (1): 59-74. Metz, Helen Chapin. 2010. Persian Gulf states: country studies. Washington, D.C.: Federal Research Division, Library of Congress. Read More