US Strategy Toward the Bahrain Popular Movement

The Persian Gulf region has always been considered as one of the world›s most sensitive areas because of its geopolitical, geostrategic, and geo-economic significance. According to Graham Fuller, this region is located in the global energy oval. Bahrain is one of the United States› oldest allies in the region, so that Bahrain was designated by the United States as a “major non-NATO ally”. Therefore, the country has a special position in the military and strategic calculations of the White House. With the advent of political developments in the West Asia region, Bahrain was also affected by these developments. The United States, as a global power, is one of the most influential players in developments occurring in the country. The overthrow of the Al Qalifa regime in Bahrain will be in conflict with the interests of Washington and its regional allies and will contribute to the achievement of Iran’s regional interests. The main question addressed in this study is: What strategy has the United States adopted towards the Bahraini popular movement? The hypothesis developed in this paper states that due to its strategic interests in Bahrain as well as regional competition with Iran, the United States prevents the formation of democratic changes and the empowerment of Shi›a in Bahrain by targeting Iran›s influence in the region. Therefore, with an interest-based look at the developments in the region including Bahrain, Washington is trying to turn the region into the warehouse of western weapons through Arab reactionary nations’ oil revenues. This paper employs a descriptive-analytic methodology within the framework of the theory of alliance strategy.