The Centrality of the Gulf in American Strategy: A Study of the American Presence After the Israeli-American War on Iran

Abstract

          This study examines the fundamental shift in the United States' strategy toward the Arabian Gulf following the Israeli-American military campaign against Iran, analyzing how Washington has adapted its regional footprint to consolidate long-term hegemony. The research problem highlights the challenge of transforming a traditional military deployment into a flexible system of "residual hegemony," aimed at building an exclusive post-conflict security and economic architecture while excluding global rivals like China and Russia. To address this, the study hypothesizes that the restructuring of the US military presence reflects an evolution toward a technologically superior deterrent system, the integration of Israel into the Gulf security framework, and the enforcement of geoeconomic parameters to secure energy and data corridors. The main body examines military transformations, detailing how Washington has adapted to missile threats by relying on AI-driven multi-layered defense networks and task-oriented maritime coalitions to secure vital waterways like the Strait of Hormuz. Geopolitically, the study demonstrates how transferring Israel to CENTCOM established a unified deterrent front to counter regional threats while curbing Chinese and Russian penetration through technological and security vetoes. Economically, Washington leverages energy market stabilization, sovereign investment alignment, and exclusive reconstruction frameworks to embed Gulf capital into Western financial and technological ecosystems. Ultimately, the study underscores its significance by offering a comprehensive framework for understanding how post-conflict recovery and structural interdependence are weaponized to permanently secure US strategic interests in the Gulf.