ABSTRACT
Chapter 5 will discuss the Middle East security complex and the current animosity between the United States and Saudi Arabia against Iran. The void created by the United States in Iraq created a power vacuum in the region. Iraq, situated between Saudi Arabia and Iran, is the center of the struggle for regional hegemony. This competition has deepened since the Arab Spring. Because of the political instability caused by the Arab Spring, the entire Middle East, most notably Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and other Sunni Gulf states with sizable Shi’a minorities, have been up for grabs. While it may seem that some may prefer to maintain the status quo and secretly support Islamic State, it would be more pragmatic in the medium to longer term for Saudi Arabia and Iran to coordinate policies to destroy Islamic State. Part of this would be to share influence in Iraq. Given sectarian divisions in Iraq, it may be possible to share influence. This chapter will also discuss the Iranian nuclear program.
