American Policy in Persian Gulf Region: Continuity or Change at the Trump Era

Abstract

United States power in Persian Gulf has risen since the end of Second World War. Dividing U.S. presence in the Region into the Cold war and post-Cold war era, the principle policy in first period was narrowing the impact of Soviet Union in the Region and in latter, Access to Persian Gulf region's oil and controlling the major threats which can disrupt the flow of oil to global energy market. Following the aforementioned policy by different president's continuity of U.S. policies in the Region is more than its changes. In this article after describing U.S. principle policy in the region, I will try to predict whether president Trump will follow the traditional policy framework or he will choose a different one. To do this I use Political Discourse Analysis method to analyze speeches and interviews of Trump about Middle East and Persian Gulf region after he took office. I conclude that Trump as well as all post-Cold War presidents of the U.S. will follow policies to make the Region stable considering strategic location of the region, export market of military equipment and goods, huge gas and oil reserves and Arab states role in oil market. Insisting on Peace Process and war against terrorism are among most important Trump strategies to stabilize the Region.