Dear readers, the foreign policy of the United States and its military involvement in Muslim countries does not come from a single decisive reason, but rather from a combination of historical, geographical, strategic, economic, and ideological factors. America’s role has sometimes appeared in direct military intervention, sometimes through covert operations, drone strikes, military support, economic sanctions, and diplomatic pressure. The CIA-backed coup in Iran in 1953 is a clear example; Britain and the United States helped remove the elected Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh to secure control over oil and protect Western interests. Documentary evidence and later partially declassified CIA reports confirm this event. The U.S. showed its military power in Iraq after the 1991 Gulf War and again in 2003 with direct invasion. The main justification for the 2003 attack was the claim that Iraq possessed Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs). Later, these claims faced serious doubts, and multiple documents highlighted intelligence failures and flawed policy decisions. After the September 11, 2001 attacks, America launched operations in Afghanistan against al-Qaeda and the Taliban. This was the moment when America accepted a long-term global military intervention under the name of the “War on Terror,” lasting from 2001 to 2021, and it permanently reshaped regional policies, alliance leadership, and internal U.S. military strategies. In 2011, in Libya, under the justification of “civilian protection,” military operations began through United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973, which imposed a no-fly zone. This intervention created a long-term political vacuum, internal conflicts, and external rivalries, the effects of which remain visible today. The U.S. has sought to maintain its presence in the Middle East through fleets, military bases, and regional partnerships. Behind this are key motives: oil, maritime routes (such as the Suez Canal), and political influence, as seen in its long-term military and financial cooperation with Egypt. America, while promoting its own security and the interests of its allies, has also projected a strong anti-terrorism narrative. Yet, drone strikes, targeted operations, and secret programs have inflicted heavy human costs. According to estimates from credible research institutions, since 2001, wars have killed or affected hundreds of thousands of people, with disproportionate civilian casualties and widespread displacement. These human costs expose the contradictions of U.S. policies. This contradiction emerges when America claims to fight terrorism worldwide, but at the same time, through military, economic, or covert interventions, is seen dismantling civilian lives and state structures. Such contradictions raise questions about America’s commitment to international law, human rights, and regional self-determination. Generally, America’s objectives fall into a few main categories: protecting national security and countering terrorism, ensuring access to energy and oil, achieving geopolitical dominance (such as limiting the influence of rivals like Russia or China), and supporting its strong allies, especially Israel. America’s actions in Muslim countries have not always been of one kind: sometimes direct invasions and wars, sometimes training and supplying weapons, sometimes economic sanctions, and sometimes secret operations. The outcomes have also differed: weakened state structures in Iraq and Libya, long internal conflict in Afghanistan, prolonged hostility with Iran, and imbalance of power in Palestine. Each reflects American policies and the region’s complexities.
Historical evidence shows that the U.S. often prioritized short-term strategic gains (such as oil or military bases) over long-term stability. Since the 1950s and 60s, this pattern has repeated itself many times. Evidence shows that U.S. interventions were not only about “religious hostility against Islamic states,” but also about power politics, economic interests, and Cold War/post-Cold War strategic calculations. Sometimes, America took steps to limit the influence of regional rivals such as Iran – the 1953 coup and the ongoing tensions.
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