The Middle East Security Nexus: Patterns of Interdependence and Rivalry

Abstract

Due to historical rivalries, ideological differences, and the strategic interests of both regional and extra-regional powers, the Middle East Security Complex offers a singular example of regional interdependence and persistent conflict. This article examines the mutually reinforcing nature of security dynamics in the region, where a state's insecurity often leads to reactive actions from neighboring states, resulting in a circular pattern of tension. Within the framework of the Regional Security Complex Theory (RSCT), it examines the roles of key actors, including Iran, Saudi Arabia, Israel, and Turkey, while emphasizing how external interventions—particularly those from the US, Russia, and China—impact their interactions. The study also looks at how sectarianism, proxy wars, and the spread of weapons interact to maintain the complex. This essay makes the case for a cooperative regional security approach as a long-term substitute for zero-sum power politics by charting the Middle East's changing security architecture.