Arab - American relations in the Persian Gulf
The Saudi decision during the October War to combine oil and politics and to relate the flow of Saudi oil to American Middle Eastern policies marked a major deviation from a long-standing policy. This has resulted in a major re-thinking of U.S. interests and long-range policies by U.S. policy makers toward all Arab national interests. The entanglement has forced U.S. policy makers to recognize three realities. First, Arab oil production can no longer be treated separately from Arab national issues, most particularly the Palestine problem. Second, smoothly functioning economic relationships will follow only if outstanding political conflicts are resolved; again, the Palestine conflict is the uppermost issue. Third, the U.S., as a major industrial country and as a superpower directly concerned with international peace and security, can no longer choose between one of only two traditional positions: complete detachment or total involvement; other options must be examined. In order to develop a policy framework for future American relations with the Arab littoral states of the Gulf, several dimensions are examined, namely: the political and ideological nature of the Arab regimes in the Gulf, the religious/tribal foundations of these regimes and the oil-generated affluence of their ruling families, the diplomatic and military activities of regional and other powers; and the new economic factors in the Gulf. The last chapter presents a long-range projection of American international relations in the Gulf and the spectrum of options available to U.S. policymakers. (MCW)
- OSTI ID:
- 7259994
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
293000* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Policy
Legislation
& Regulation
AGREEMENTS
ARABIAN SEA
ASIA
ECONOMIC POLICY
ENERGY POLICY
ENERGY SOURCES
FOREIGN POLICY
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
INDIAN OCEAN
INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS
INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
IRAN
IRAQ
KUWAIT
MIDDLE EAST
NORTH AMERICA
PERSIAN GULF
PETROLEUM
SAUDI ARABIA
SEAS
SURFACE WATERS
TRADE
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
USA