New disturbing trends in the Middle East

RECENT developments in the Middle East show a disturbing trend, to add to all the other disturbing trends that have emerged in the region since the “Arab Spring” began in 2011. Both regional and international actors have begun to take advantage of the power vacuum created by the US and Europe to expand their military presence with potentially dangerous implications, especially since most of those actors are revisionist rather than status quo powers.

At the regional level, there is Iran, newly-empowered by the nuclear “deal,” which was just implemented despite various provocative actions, such as firing missiles near an American aircraft carrier and seizing two US navy patrol vessels in the Gulf. With the billions that are now to be released from the funds frozen by the US government, Iran will implement its imperialistic ambitions throughout the region, threatening the Sunni powers, especially Saudi Arabia. Iranian forces are now heavily engaged directly in Iraq and Syria.