Why is the Middle East so important?

The Middle East is a geographical region that has been of great importance in history since ancient times. Strategically located, it is a natural land bridge connecting the continents of Asia, Africa, and Europe. In recent times its enormous deposits of oil have made the Middle East more important than ever.

What continent is the Middle East?

Asia
Africa
Middle East/Continent

About The Middle East These Middle East countries are part of the Asian continent, with the exception of Egypt, which is part of Africa, and the northwestern part of Turkey (colored orange), which is part of the European landmass.

Why are they called Middle East countries?

The term “Middle East” originated from the same European perspective that described Eastern Asia as “the Far East.” The Middle East denotes the transcontinental area between Western Asia and Egypt. It is comprised of 17 nations and an estimated population of 371 million.

Should the Middle East be its own continent?

The Middle East is culturally distinct from South and East Asia, to be sure, but it is very similar to North Africa (Egypt, Libya, etc.), with which it is frequently included. So it’s not so much a “continent” as a “cultural area” (for which we don’t really have a term as catchy and concise as “continent”).

What happens if America goes home from the Middle East?

If America goes home from the Middle East, it will sooner or later face pressures to go big. Whatever policies the Trump administration pursues in the Middle East, then, the United States will continue to face the same conflicting imperatives that have long shaped its approach to that region.

Can America disengage from the Middle East without consequences?

Second, however, it is a fantasy to think that the United States can disengage from the Middle East without consequence. This is because America still has pressing interests in that region—and because those interests are as unlikely to protect themselves today as they ever have been in the past.

Should the United States Go Big or small in the Middle East?

And when Washington overcommits to a region as frustrating as the Middle East, it risks undermining public support for U.S. foreign policy not just in that region but around the world. If the United States goes big in the Middle East, it will sooner or later face strong pressures to go home.

Is leaving the Middle East a sound policy?

But leaving the Middle East is not a sound policy. Washington still has critical interests there that are worth protecting, even if political, technological, and social changes have made those interests less vital than they were decades ago.