U.S. Foreign Policy in the Middle East and Operation Epic Fury

As the White House thinks about how it wants to steer Operation Epic Fury moving forward, Washington needs to carefully consider how it engages in the region militarily while protecting its closest partners from Iranian retaliation. Additionally, balancing risk during negotiations and future tactical operations will be key to protecting allies through collaborative air defense efforts, safeguarding American personnel and assets, and avoiding unnecessary escalation. This discussion examined the short- and long-term impacts of the ongoing military campaign against Tehran and the repercussions it could have for Washington’s relationships with Gulf allies, Israel, and Western states.

The Center for a New American Security (CNAS) held a live event on Thursday, April 16, from 2:30–3:30 p.m. ET discussing forward-looking U.S. Middle East policy for a region shaped by new conflict. The panel featured Dr. Stacie Pettyjohn, Dr. Mara Karlin, and Ambassador (Ret.) Daniel Kurtzer, and will be moderated by Daniel Schneiderman.