Strategic Expert: Makkah Alliance Signals US Withdrawal from Middle East
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, strategic analyst Abdel Bari Atwan has suggested that the recent Makkah alliance may foreshadow an impending withdrawal of the United States from the Middle East. Atwan referenced an article by Michael Fox, a former advisor to the Biden administration, published in Foreign Affairs, which questioned whether the time for a US withdrawal from the region had arrived.
Fox, who contends that US strategy in the Middle East has failed and labels the conflict against Iran as a ‘major strategic catastrophe,’ provided an affirmative answer to his own query. Atwan elaborated that while many of Iran’s regional rivals are reluctant to use terms like ‘defeat’ for the US and ‘victory’ for Iran, often due to religious or ethnic considerations, strategic experts like Fox acknowledge this reality.
The analyst asserted that the aggressions by the United States and the Zionist regime against Iran actually underscore the failure of American strategy in the Middle East. This strategy, Atwan noted, was predicated on the use of force, air superiority, and an investment of hundreds of billions of dollars to establish approximately 50 US military bases across the region, particularly in the Arabian Peninsula and the Persian Gulf.
Atwan outlined several pieces of evidence supporting Fox’s theory of a failed US military presence in the Middle East:
First, the inadequacy of US air and naval armaments against the missiles, drones, and battlefield tactics of the Axis of Resistance and its frontlines. The US has admitted to the loss of over 40 advanced aircraft, including ‘AWACS,’ ‘F-15,’ ‘F-35,’ refueling planes, and sophisticated drones like the ‘MQ-9.’
Second, Iran’s resilience, which has persisted for approximately six months, during which Tehran has reportedly grown stronger and addressed numerous intelligence vulnerabilities.
Third, the attrition of US military resources and missile stockpiles. US military command acknowledged losing 80% of its interceptor missile reserves and other combat munitions. A significant portion of this depletion is attributed to Iranian missiles, including hypersonic variants and warheads such as the Fateh, Kheibar, and Khurramshahr.
Fourth, US aggression against Iran has not secured the safety and stability of its bases or those of the Zionist regime. Iranian missiles reportedly caused extensive damage to large parts of Tel Aviv, disrupted operations at the port of Eilat, and targeted military installations in Haifa.
Fifth, the closure of two vital Middle Eastern straits to global trade: the Strait of Hormuz has been completely blocked, and the Strait of Bab el-Mandeb has been partially obstructed during this conflict. The war’s impact on the global economy, including oil and gas prices, other energy resources, and worldwide inflation, has been substantial.
Sixth, US wars in the Middle East, including those in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, and now Iran, have cost the US treasury approximately $8 trillion.
General Dan Kink, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was quoted as stating the necessity of seeking a swift exit from the conflict in Iran, acknowledging that air power alone would not achieve any of Trump’s objectives.
Atwan further commented that the US military is ensnared in a widespread regional attrition across multiple fronts. Evidence for this includes ammunition shortages and the recall of all Patriot interceptor missiles previously sold to European nations, halting their dispatch to Ukraine.
According to the article, former President Trump is also advocating for a rapid cessation of hostilities against Iran, aiming to bolster the Republican Party’s standing and address internal divisions, while entirely ruling out a ground military option.
In conclusion, Atwan did not rule out the possibility that the hasty formation of a tripartite alliance between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan might be a response to the imminent US departure from the region, intended to mitigate further losses and setbacks.
