1. Contemporary ME regional arrangements in the US Grand Strategy towards the region. Engy M. Tawfeik Assistant Professor Faculty of Economics and Political Science Cairo University

2. Outline: Research Problem.. Sub questions Methodology Indicators Interests Policy Options

3. Research Problem: How the United States perceive the regional arrangements in the Middle East ? & How does that affect its vision of the American role in the region ?

4. Sub Questions: 1. What is the United States Grand Strategy in the ME? 2. What is the regional powers perception of the US strategy in the region? 3. How the regional powers react towards various regional challenges? 4. Are there new international actors in the ME? What are their roles, and how that affect the regional arrangements?

5. Methodology: The Causal Relationship between : Practice and Interaction : Independent Variables & The Cognitive Structures at the level of individual states and of systems of states constitute Identities and Interests : Dependent Variables

6. Indicators : Challenges in the ME : Counter Terrorism. Counter Insurgency. Humanitarian Crisis. State building…Nation Building.

7.  Coalition of nations have conducted airstrikes in Iraq include Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Jordan, Netherlands, United Kingdom and the U.S..  Coalition nations which have conducted airstrikes in Syria include Bahrain, Canada, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and the U.S.. Operation Inherent Resolve August 2014 - Present

8. Statement on U.S. Policy and Strategy in the Middle East before the House Armed Services Committee Delivered by Secretary of Defense Ash Carter, Washington, D.C. June 17, 2015 “America’s strategy, is grounded in America’s core national interests – that’s the foundation – tailored to address specific circumstances in specific and various places – Iraq, Syria, Iran, and so forth. And it leverages American leadership with the efforts of coalition – of a coalition of allies and partners.”

9. “ISIL presents a grave threat to our friends and allies in the Middle East; elsewhere around the world from Africa and Europe to parts of Asia because of its steady metastasis; and to our homeland because of its avowed intentions to strike and recruit in this country. ISIL must be – and will be – dealt a lasting defeat”.

10. The success in this Campaign: Can and must be assured. It will take time, and require consistent effort on everyone’s part – the entire U.S. government, our entire international coalition, and most importantly, the Iraqi and Syrian peoples.

11.  As of June 18, 2015, the total cost of operations related to ISIL since kinetic operations started on Aug. 8, 2014, is $ 2.91 billion and the average daily cost is $ 9.2 million for 315 days of operations.

12. Operation Decisive Storm (Yemen) March 25, 2015 –April 21, 2015 Operation Restoring Hope (Yemen) April 22, 2015 – Present

13. Egyptian Airstrikes in Libya Feb. 16, 2015  Against Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) positions in Libya : training camps and weapons stockpiles in retaliation for the killings.Islamic State of Iraq and the LevantLibya  Warplanes acting under orders from the Libyan government also struck targets in Derna, reportedly in coordination with Egypt.Derna

14. Arab Joint Military Force March 29, 2015  The heads of Arab League countries meeting in Egypt - Sharm el-Sheikh - have agreed to create a joint Arab military force. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said: "The Arab leaders have decided to agree on the principle of a joint Arab military force.”  A high-level panel will work out the structure and mechanism of the future force. The work is expected to take four months.

15.  Egyptian officials quoted by Associated Press said the force would comprise some 40,000 elite troops, supported by war planes, naval vessels and light armour.  It is unlikely, however, that all 22-member countries of the often-fractious Arab League will join the proposed force. Its creation has been a longtime goal that has eluded Arab states in the 65 years since they signed a rarely used joint defense agreement.

16. Arms Race 2014-2015  Russia confirms sale of S -300 Missile systems to Iran, May 2015.  Agreed arms sales to the top five purchasers in the region - Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Algeria, Egypt and Iraq – surge this year to more than $18bn, up from $12bn last year. Among the systems being purchased are jet fighters, missiles, armoured vehicles, drones and helicopters.

17. Interests : The U.S. commitment to Middle East stability remains high. The United States works to ensure energy security and stability in the Gulf and the long-term security of Israel, while also seeking a comprehensive agreement with Iran over its nuclear program that prevents nuclear proliferation. The future of Syria and Iraq remain highly uncertain, and outcomes in both countries will have a long-term impact on the stability of the Middle East as a whole. The threat of terrorism has grown in Morocco, Algeria, Libya, and northern Mali, where militants have allied themselves with the forces of Al Qaeda, and U.S. counterterrorism operations continue in Yemen.

18. Policy Options:  How the United States assesses and approaches these security challenges has a major impact on U.S. foreign policy as a whole.  Positive opportunities for U.S. engagement in the Middle East on matters related to regional security.

20. Thank You