The middle east is a region which possesses much of the reserves of oil and gas. The Gulf corporation council states, (Saudi, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Iran and Iraq,) jointly posses 64% of oil reserves, (Saudi Arabia accounts for 25% alone.)

Therefore the West has an obvious interest towards in supporting political and social stability in the region to gain access to a new/continued supply - ensuring energy security.

WHAT HAS HAPPENED?

1991 Gulf War = military attack on Iraq, which had invaded Kuwait due to long-lasting border disagreements, also threatened to invade Saudi 540,000 coalition troops from UK/France/US.

2003 War on Iraq = prior to the war, Iraq's alleged possessions of WMD was claimed to pose a serious threat to the security of the USA and allies (but they were never found.)

- Alan Greenspan (former government finance minister) believed it was actually due to oil and energy security for the stability of the region.

- Article released in 2005 reporting that the US planned to sell Iraq's oil field to large Western Companies - HAPPENED NOW.

	Created by 10underwoode over 8 years ago

Slide Set on Geopolitics, created by 10underwoode on 24/02/2016.

Geopolitics