US-Arab Relations: The Role Reversal

Charity did not end when the Coronavirus pandemic began. As countries poor and wealthy alike dug in their heals to fight the virus, they were not left alone in the crisis. One country in particular seemed to be dealing pretty poorly with the virus, as its healthcare system was in shambles. Many Middle Eastern countries decided to step in to provide aid to their ailing ally: Jordan sent doctors; Egypt sent a plane full of medicine; the UAE donated PPE and Qatar donated supplies and funds.

The struggling country in question wasn’t Palestine, which surprisingly held up well during the initial stage of the pandemic (likely thanks to its occupation, ironically enough), nor was it Yemen (now the world’s worst humanitarian crisis). Nor was it war-torn Syria, Libya or Iraq.

It was the United States.

The relationship between the United States and the Middle East has long been one of dominance, in which the US dictates regional policy, leans on local oil barons and destroys entire countries in the elusive hunt for terrorists. It also occasionally plays the do-gooder in terms of providing aid to the less oil-rich nations as well as to those it has played a hand in decimating. America, whether in its role as a wealthy benefactor, an oil collaborator or an invading menace, has always projected a position of power in its unique relationships with the Arab countries. Until the Coronavirus hit, when America the Great was brought to its knees, and that facade of mighty power seemed to vanish.

In the dark days of the pandemic this past spring, Arab nations from the super wealthy Gulf countries to Egypt and Jordan (these being classified as “developing countries” that are themselves frequent recipients of American aid) decided to help the nation that has greedily wrought so much trouble for them. Or, at least, they decided to help New York, which was the US virus epicenter at the time. These countries sent the US aid as though it was some poverty-stricken, developing country, thereby turning the traditional US-Arab relationship on its head.

The Covid-19 pandemic has upended international relations like nothing seen before, and it will be interesting to see how relations pan out between the Middle East and the (former?) World Superpower. Although America has long projected dominance across the globe, it has wielded unusually strong influence in the Middle East, even when it isn’t invading or dropping bombs. This influence targets the protection of Israel and oil (in that order?) and it is backed by bombs and money. Now, the Arab countries have seen just how weak the US is: infrastructurally, socially and politically speaking.

No country in the region has come close to experiencing as devastating effects from the Coronavirus as the US has (leaving aside the three war zones of Syria, Yemen and Libya, where Coronavirus stats fade away against the other horrors at hand). Some countries, including Bahrain and Qatar, have had an exceeding high number of cases per capita. Others have witnessed a high number of deaths (Iran, which is already crippled economically and structurally from US sanctions). Lebanon’s economic woes have been completely exacerbated by the pandemic and its people are facing down famine. Yet despite all of this, despite corrupt and undemocratic governments, the Middle East has not even been close to the comedic-tragic shit show (pardon the language) that is the United States during the Coronavirus pandemic.

The aid packages donated by Egypt, the UAE et al. is just the beginning. The longer the Coronavirus rages on, and the longer the US struggles, the more likely it is that relations in the region (and the world) will be forever changed. Will the US stop meddling in the Middle East? Will the drop in demand for oil lessen America’s need to play nice with the Saudis and GCC? Will calls at home to defund the Defense Department result in a departure of US troops and military involvement in the region? Will lack of PPE and resources cause the US to dial down its foreign aid? Will the US become so focused at fighting China–as well as its own homegrown terrorists–that it will forget about its obsession with Muslims and jihadists?

So far, things remain largely unchanged. The ongoing war in Libya and Russia’s recent aggressive actions in that conflict has spurred renewed US interest in a conflict it has largely sidelined in its list of international priorities. However, the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan has continued despite the imposed quarantine as well as setbacks to the peace deal with the Taliban. And despite continued trouble on the home front, the US has not entirely abandoned its role in foreign aid provision. USAID, the government’s foreign assistance fund, has since provided millions to countries such as Morocco, Tunisia and even Egypt to help combat the virus.

It is perhaps too early to say, but it is likely that Covid-19 will impact US-Arab relations forevermore. America has proven herself to be weak, and whether one frames the aid provisions from Jordan et al as “goodwill” from ally nations or a humiliating blow to the world’s wealthiest nation, the fact remains that America is weak and everyone can see that. And it will be remembered. A nation can fight with guns and bombs if the other country has nothing but swords, but it can’t fight tyranny and oppression when said country itself has been proven to be weak and undemocratic.

The US has been humbled on the world stage thanks to its atrocious handling of the Coronavirus. A ~~decision~~ (no choice but) to focus on its own issues and to stop meddling with the Middle East would be one positive win for international relations in the time of the Coronavirus. After all, America really doesn’t have a leg to stand on or lungs with which to shout anymore. There’s an Egyptian plane full of medical supplies as proof.

S-L-M

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