DOHA — The United States has signaled a strategic departure from its long-standing “oil-for-security” doctrine with Middle Eastern nations, indicating that Washington no longer seeks regional dominance.
Speaking at the Global Security Forum in Doha on Tuesday, Tom Barrack, the U.S. Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy for Syria, outlined a recalibration of American foreign policy in the region, noting that while the U.S. has no intention of withdrawing entirely, its role requires fundamental redefinition following decades of interventions and regime-change efforts.
“The United States is no longer discussing how to control the Middle East,” Barrack said during his address. “Our discussions now focus on how to maintain a presence without seeking control, and how to remain engaged in the region without walking away.”
Barrack observed that regional capitals have also begun to recognize the inherent limits of American intervention, increasingly realizing that they cannot rely exclusively on Washington to solve their internal and regional challenges.
Reflecting on past U.S. foreign policy missteps, the envoy pointed out that historical interventions aimed at orchestrating leadership or regime changes have frequently proved misguided.
Source: Global Security Forum, Doha (Remarks by U.S. Special Envoy Tom Barrack)