Despite minimal payoff from U.S. President Joe Biden’s visit to the Middle East last summer, Washington has nonetheless scored some diplomatic wins over the past year. In October, the United States brokered a historic agreement that settled a years-long maritime border dispute between Israel and Lebanon. The Biden administration also built some momentum on efforts to promote regional integration with the creation of the Negev Forum—comprising Bahrain, Egypt, Israel, Morocco, the United Arab Emirates and the U.S.—as well as initiatives advancing defense cooperation between Israel and Washington’s Arab partners in the Middle East. These steps signal movement toward Washington’s priorities in the region: Israel’s integration into the broader Middle East, the de-escalation of regional conflicts and a collective effort to contain Iran. But the gains Washington has made have now run into significant yet predictable headwinds, highlighting the difficulties facing Biden’s regional agenda.

Source: The North Africa Journal May 05, 2023 12:26 UTC