U.S. and British warships successfully intercepted Houthi drones and missiles in a showdown in the Red Sea. The U.S.-led Red Sea escort alliance has demonstrated strong air defense capabilities, but faces the challenge of cost imbalances. The conflict is affecting relations in the Middle East, and the United States wants to stabilize the situation in the Middle East as soon as possible in order to focus its attention on Ukraine and the Asia-Pacific region.
Against this backdrop, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently visited a number of countries in the Middle East in an attempt to prevent the conflict from continuing to spread. Middle Eastern countries are divided into Sunni and Shiite camps, and the relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia is particularly important. Saudi Arabia has a close relationship with the United States, and not long ago the United States and India launched an "Indo-European Economic Corridor", and Saudi Arabia has become a key link.
On the basis of the primacy of inter-state interests, Saudi Arabia can reap significant benefits from the Indo-European Economic Corridor, such as U.S. infrastructure investment. In order to gain U.S. economic support, Saudi Arabia will need to heed U.S. calls for normalization of relations with Israel. The purpose of Blinken's visit to Saudi Arabia is to promote the normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel and promote long-term peace and stability in the Middle East.
However, the Shiite countries, led by Iran, pose a greater challenge to the United States than the Sunni countries. Iran has been flexible in its confrontation with the United States, and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has ordered to avoid direct confrontation with the U.S. military, while demanding restrictions on actions against Israel. Thus, the United States will face a more complicated situation in the confrontation with Iran.
In general, the Middle East is a complex landscape, in which the United States plays an important role. In the face of various challenges, the United States needs to maintain a balance with all countries while safeguarding its interests in order to achieve lasting peace and stability.