US reconsidering approaches to recaliberate influence in West Asia: Report
Washington, July 28
The US has been reconsidering its options to recalibrate its influence and power balance in West Asia after facing serious security credibility issues and Iran's rise, as Washington is at the losing end of the conflict with Tehran, according to a report.
However, the US now faces the question of the region's strategic autonomy spin and the stance that the Arab allies, particularly Saudi Arabia and the UAE, will take, an India Narrative report said.
The US has been trying to play a brinkmanship card in West Asia as it recently signed a nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia that has sparked tensions in the region. The US seems to have taken the decision considering the rapidly evolving politics in West Asia, particularly amid the ongoing conflict between Tehran and Washington, it said.
The US government has approved the "123 Agreement" for civilian nuclear cooperation, which allows American companies to develop nuclear infrastructure in Saudi Arabia. The pact has strong economic value; however, it has also sparked concerns.
On July 22, US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright and Saudi Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman signed a peaceful nuclear cooperation agreement, commonly known as a "123 agreement", alongside an accompanying bilateral safeguards agreement. Together, these two agreements lay the legal foundation for a decades-long, multi-billion-dollar partnership that advances several priority economic and strategic objectives, including nuclear nonproliferation, according to a statement released by the US Department of Energy.
The deal enables the possible domestic uranium enrichment in Saudi Arabia, considering the future joint US-Saudi Arabia review instead of Riyadh being required to permanently give up enrichment. In addition, the deal does not include the stringent monitoring of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which allows Saudi Arabia to implement the IAEA's Additional Protocol for enhanced facility inspection, according to the India Narrative report.
"After being at the losing end of the war with Iran, the US is reconsidering its approaches to recalibrate its influence and power balance in the Middle East after facing serious security credibility issues and Iran's rise. However, there is a much larger question that is bothering the US: the region's strategic autonomy spin, which the US currently fears, and the pivoting mood of Arab allies, especially Saudi Arabia and the UAE," Srijan Sharma, a national security analyst specialising in intelligence and security analysis, wrote in the report.
"Distrust in Arab allies is core damage to US influence that it cannot afford, especially in the current global order where alternative power and pivoting is a favoured strategy to cut dependencies and readjust to fulfil one's national interests. The US has taken risks that even have dangerous precedents to secure allies' trust, and now the US is again doing it by signing a nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia," he added.
After the deal was signed, Wright said in the statement that these agreements reflect the shared commitment of the US and Saudi Arabia to strengthen commercial ties, delivering prosperity at home and security to allies abroad.
He further said, "Rest assured, these agreements uphold the highest standards of nuclear safety and nonproliferation, while relying on the world's best nuclear technology and scientists, designed right here in the United States. Thanks to President (Donald) Trump, the American nuclear renaissance is underway and will deliver long-term benefits to the American and Saudi people."
— IANS
Reader Comments
The US is losing credibility in West Asia? Tell me something new! For years they've used double standards - supporting Israel unconditionally, bombing Iraq on false pretexts, and now cozying up to Saudi Arabia while ignoring their human rights record. The Arab allies are smart to diversify their partnerships - China, Russia, and even India are offering better deals without strings attached. This 123 agreement looks like a desperate attempt to keep Saudi in the US orbit. 😏
Honestly, as an Indian watching this, I'm concerned but not surprised. The US has been in decline as a reliable global leader for years. Their Iran policy has been a disaster - pulling out of the JCPOA, imposing sanctions that hurt ordinary Iranians, and now they're surprised Iran has gained influence. The Saudi nuclear deal without proper IAEA safeguards is reckless. What stops other countries in the region from demanding the same? We could be looking at a chain reaction of nuclear programs across West Asia. Bad news for everyone, India included.
As someone who follows geopolitics closely, it's fascinating to see the US struggling to maintain its grip on West Asia. The strategic autonomy that Saudi and UAE are pursuing is a direct result of America's inconsistent policies. You can't bomb countries for WMDs and then sign a lax nuclear deal with a monarchy. The double standards are glaring. India should take notes - we need to build our own independent relationships in the region without being a pawn in anyone's game. 🇮🇳
US is playing dangerous games in West Asia. This 123 agreement with Saudi Arabia without proper IAEA oversight is a recipe for disaster. Remember what happened with Pakistan's nuclear program? The same approach - no oversight, no restrictions. Iran will see this as a threat and accelerate its own enrichment. India has always advocated for a nuclear-free Middle East, but the US keeps undermining that goal for short-term geopolitical gains. Watch out for Saudi enrichment - it could trigger a regional arms race that
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