US shifts Middle East strategy toward state partnerships and base security

The United States is undergoing a strategic shift in its Middle East military and diplomatic approach. Amid escalating tensions with Iran, the Pentagon is reviewing its regional presence to protect approximately 50,000 deployed troops and critical intelligence infrastructure. This review includes considering the use of underground bases to safeguard assets at key locations such as Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar and facilities in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan.

Simultaneously, Washington is transitioning away from its reliance on local armed proxies toward a model of state-level partnerships. This shift is evidenced by the dissolution of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) as they integrate into the Syrian national army, and the removal of Syria from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism. Additionally, the Pentagon has proposed eliminating direct military assistance to Iraq’s Kurdish Peshmerga by reducing the Counter-ISIS Train and Equip Fund to zero. These moves signal an effort to preserve global power and influence while reducing the direct costs of regional policing.