The vulnerability of U.S. military infrastructure in the Middle East has become one of the main topics of national security discussions. The Hill website reported, citing sources familiar with the negotiations regarding the future of U.S. military forces, that the final decision on the withdrawal of these forces depends on the outcome of the Iran war.
Infrastructure and Security Challenges
Allison Minor, the director of Arabian Peninsula affairs at the National Security Council during Donald Trump's first term, believes that regardless of the war with Iran, U.S. military presence in the region requires a "necessary realignment." Jennifer Kavanagh, a senior researcher and director of military analysis at the "Defense Priorities" institute, has also acknowledged that the damage inflicted on U.S. bases in the Middle East has made a reduction in the country's military presence almost unavoidable.
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Kavanagh emphasizes that even if the Pentagon wants to maintain its forces in the region after the Iran war, the bases located in the Gulf countries are practically indefensible. These bases have suffered serious damage during the war and need to be rebuilt. Meanwhile, there is a risk of further damage to these bases in future conflicts.
Heavy Costs and the Necessity for Strategic Change
According to reports, about 70 facilities at 11 U.S. military bases in the Middle East have incurred $5 billion in damages. These damages have not only impacted the infrastructure but have also struck at U.S. security strategies. Officials from U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) have refrained from providing details about the future arrangement of forces for security reasons, but analyses indicate that if this trend continues, the need to revise U.S. military and security strategies in the Middle East will be felt even more.
Supporters of reducing U.S. military presence in the Middle East argue that the country's military forces have become vulnerable targets and maintaining these bases is no longer economically justified. While more than 50,000 U.S. military personnel are stationed in the region, calls for changes in the arrangement of these forces and strengthening infrastructure have intensified.
Ultimately, the analyses conducted indicate that the U.S. must reconsider its strategies in the Middle East. These changes will not only help secure the bases but can also assist in maintaining access and U.S. air superiority against future threats.
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