An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

News | Feb. 9, 2021

Great power competition adds to challenges in Middle East

By Jim Garamone DOD News

Great power competition is adding a level of risk and uncertainty in an already risky and uncertain part of the world: the Middle East, the commander of U.S. Central Command said.

Marine Corps Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie said in an address to the Middle East Institute yesterday that Russia and China are vying for power and influence through all aspects of national power in the region. This is on top of the risks posed by Iran and violent extremist groups.

A man in a military uniform looks at equipment in a small, enclosed space; four men in uniforms are in the background.
Ship Tour
Marine Corps Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie, commander of U.S. Central Command, tours the main machinery room onboard the USS Bataan, the amphibious assault ship. The Bataan Amphibious Ready Group, with embarked 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet's area of operations in support of maritime security operations to reassure allies and partners and preserve the freedom of navigation and the free flow of commerce in the region.
Photo By: Marine Corps Cpl. Tanner Seims
VIRIN: 200123-M-KE756-1144

Peace and stability in the Middle East is important to the United States because the health of the global economy depends on the free flow of oil and other commerce from the region and within the region, he said.

"The United States faces increasing competition in the region from Russia and China both vying for power and influence through a combination of diplomatic, military and economic means," he said in the keynote address at the institute's virtual convention. 

China and Russia each have reasons for challenging the status quo in the region, but many are surprised that the challenge is happening because it is widely assumed that great power competition is occurring only in the Indo-Pacific or Europe, McKenzie said. "The CENTCOM [area of operations] is and always has been a crossroads of global interests and, historically, a prime arena for foreign powers to compete for influence for resources and for access," he said. "In 2020, Russia and China exploited an ongoing regional crisis; financial infrastructure needs; perception of declining U.S. engagement; and opportunities created by COVID-19 to advance their objectives across the Middle East and central and southern Asian nations to gain or strengthen footholds in the region." 

Russia seeks to undermine and disrupt U.S. influence to reassert its own identity as a global power, the general said. Russia also has economic reasons for moves in the Middle East including destabilizing arms sales. Russia is also looking to establish permanent bases in Syria and Sudan. 

A soldier stands in a dry field and points at something in the distance; behind him, an old aircraft sits rusting in the desert.
Joint Patrol
Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, and Norwegian soldiers perform a joint combat reconnaissance patrol around Al Asad Air Base in Iraq, May 15, 2020.
Photo By: Army Spc. Derek Mustard
VIRIN: 200515-A-DS044-1337

This has impacted U.S. operations to counter violent extremists in the region. "In September 2020, in response to a dangerous increase in unauthorized and unsafe Russian interactions with coalition forces, CENTCOM deployed Sentinel radar and Bradley fighting vehicles to the eastern Syrian security area and increased combat air patrols over U.S. forces," he said. "I suspect Russia will continue to challenge U.S. presence as opportunities present themselves, positioning … itself is an alternative to the West by trying to mediate regional conflicts; selling arms without end-use restrictions; offering military expertise; and participating in regional and multilateral organizations and military exercises." 

China is dependent on the region for half of its crude oil. China continues to cultivate trade relationships, economic investment and comprehensive partnerships among regional states. "China uses its 'Belt and Road' initiative and the China-Pakistan economic corridor to expand Chinese influence and presence within the [region]," McKenzie said. 

Both Russia and China leverage their proximity to the region, historical relations and a perceived decline in U.S. engagement to establish and strengthen opportunistic relationships, he said. 

He said he expects China will continue to strengthen defense cooperation throughout the region with arms sales, exercises and the use of multilateral organizations to establish and strengthen trade relationships across the Middle East while prioritizing access to energy resources. 

A refueling line extends to a bomber for mid-air refueling.
Bomber Refueling
An Air Force B-52 Stratofortress from Minot Air Force Base is refueled by an Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker in the U.S. Central Command's area of responsibility, Jan. 17, 2021. The B-52 Stratofortress is a long-range, heavy bomber that can carry nuclear or precision guided conventional ordnance with global reach precision navigation capability.
Photo By: Air Force Senior Airman Roslyn Ward
VIRIN: 210117-F-XN348-0109C

Coordinated U.S. interagency efforts, strong allies and partner relationships are key in this phase of great power competition. "Opportunities to bolster partnerships and compete with Russia and China in the region include border security measures, counter narcotics efforts, counterterrorism, defense institution building, and even development assistance," he said. "These low-cost and often overlooked programs possessed outsized impact in terms of building relationships and assuring key partners."

But Iran remains the main problem for the command, McKenzie said. "For more than 40 years, the Iranian regime has funded and aggressively supported terrorism and terrorist organizations and defied international norms by conducting malign activities, which destabilize — not only the region — but global security and commerce, as well," he flatly stated. 

McKenzie said Iran sponsors proxies in Iraq, Yemen, Lebanon and Syria and uses Iraq as a proxy battleground against the United States. "Iran's actions also contribute to the instability seen in Syria and Yemen, two regional conflicts that have resulted in millions of refugees, famine and outbreaks of diseases."

Foreign military service members wearing berets stand in a line.
Afghan Commandos
Afghan army commandos stand in formation as they wait for Afghan Deputy Defense Minister Dr. Yasin Zia and Resolute Support Commander Gen. Scott Miller in Kabul, Afghanistan, March 3, 2020. Resolute Support is a NATO-led mission to train, advise and assist the Afghan national defense, security forces and institutions.
Photo By: Army Spc. Jeffery Harris
VIRIN: 200303-A-NN123-0103

McKenzie also said the U.S. presence in the region has brought about a period of contested deterrence with Iran. "That presence sends a series of clear and unambiguous signals of our capabilities and will to defend partners and U.S. national interests, a signal which has been clearly received by the Iranian regime," he said. "In addition to visible presence, CENTCOM demonstrates U.S. capability and will [continue that] by enhancing a resilient and responsive force posture; dynamically moving forces in and out of the region, as needed; and building cohesive and dominant partnerships with regional and coalition forces."

McKenzie also talked about Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Sudan joining Egypt and Jordan in recognizing Israel. 

"The easing of tensions between Israel and other Arab countries provides us with a strategic opportunity to align additional partners against shared threats to stability in the region," he said. "Now, I fully understand there are fundamental political issues that remains to be worked out between Israel and many of its Arab neighbors, and that process will take its course. But it's always been my observation that since you can't choose your neighbors, you have to find a way to get along with the ones that you do have."