Developments in Afghanistan; Rising distrust of the United States and the emergence of alliances
A senior US official based in the Persian Gulf, who did not want to be named, said the Gulf states should reconsider their alliance, especially in Iran, IRNA reported on Tuesday. Consider whether they can still trust the United States.
“Taliban domination of Afghanistan is like a devastating earthquake that has been affecting the Middle East for many years,” the official added.
He warned that despite the group’s promises of moderation, the only thing that has changed is that the Taliban now have a better understanding of the world situation than in the past.
The Guardian continued: The official said that the rapid and chaotic withdrawal of the United States from Afghanistan raises many questions for the Gulf countries about the value of US security promises in the next 20 years.
“Afghanistan is now a devastating earthquake that will stay with us for a very, very long time,” he said. In 1980, the United States declared that it was defending its national interests in the Persian Gulf if necessary (in response to the former Soviet intervention in Afghanistan and its prevention of hegemony in the Persian Gulf).
The official in response to the question of whether it is really possible to depend on the American security umbrella for the next 20 years? He stressed that trust in the United States is currently very complex and problematic.
He added that 20 years of war; The “fight against those who kidnapped Islam” left no legacy in Afghanistan, and predicted that the Taliban’s seizure of power would raise concerns among North and West African leaders about the rise of Islamic fundamentalism.
According to the official, the biggest surprise about Afghanistan was the sheer incompetence of the United States, which distorted attitudes towards the United States.
Afghanistan will be seen as a victory for Pakistan and an opportunity for China, with the United States playing a minimal role, he said.
“If there is a geopolitical conflict over Afghanistan, we will see Pakistan, China, India, Iran and Russia on the other side, and I do not think the Americans are part of this geopolitical battle over Afghanistan,” he added.
According to the British newspaper, many countries in the Persian Gulf have already begun to reconsider their foreign policy in view of reducing US dependence on oil and increasing its isolation. However, the US-based Gulf official said the process was expected to accelerate, leading to a shift in alliances in the Gulf and a shift to some historical rivals for more practical relations, as the overall goal is to reduce tensions in the region.
The source noted that we expect to see more talks between Saudi Arabia and Iran in the future, as well as between the United Arab Emirates and Iran.
He also referred to the signing of a defense agreement between Saudi Arabia and Russia and stressed that in the post-carbon era, the countries bordering the Persian Gulf want to diversify their security resources away from the United States.
The US official concluded by emphasizing that the ultimate goal of the main players in the region is for the Middle East to face at least less pressure than a pressure cooker and not to explode.
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