Uncle Sam packs his bags: The US withdraws from the Middle East - who will replace it?

The Economist magazine claims that the US is expected to reduce its role in the Middle East after decades of dominance. Iran, Turkey, and Israel may compete for the vacuum that will be created. Arab countries are expected to be the main losers from the American withdrawal.

The Economist magazine claims that the United States is in the process of withdrawing from the Middle East, after decades of hegemony, three wars, and diplomatic struggles. According to the magazine, the current conflict with Iran, whatever its outcome, will mark a historic moment when Washington relinquishes its role as the region's architect. The US is expected to reduce its military presence, which includes 30-40 thousand soldiers in 19 bases, and concentrate forces in Israel and Jordan due to their vulnerability to cheap drones and missiles. Three regional powers are identified as contenders for the vacuum that will be created: Iran, which will hope to rebuild its militias and control the Strait of Hormuz; Turkey, which is building close relations with Arab countries for pragmatic and economic reasons; and Israel, which sees itself as a modern Sparta and seeks to destroy any threat to its existence. The main losers are Arab countries, which depend on American security.