By Jack McGrath
Senator Bob Menendez's (D-N.J.) federal indictment for bribery, and failure to register as an agent of Egypt, raises broader questions about the influence exerted by other nations over U.S. foreign policy. While Cairo's alleged bribing of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee chair to facilitate a $99 million arms deal is a flagrant example of foreign interference, it is hardly the first. The Gulf states, particularly Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) spend vast sums contracting legions of lobbyists and funding prominent foreign policy think tanks to advance their objectives in Washington.
Despite occasional feuds, the monarchies share an interest in buying armaments and keeping the U.S. entangled in the Middle East indefinitely with defense commitments. However, only 7 percent of Americans support more U.S. military involvement abroad. As the Israel-Hamas war escalates regional strife and threatens the safety of 30,000 American soldiers in the region, Washington faces pivotal decisions over the future of military involvement in the Middle East. Gulf state agendas are markedly distinct from U.S. national interests, and the former should not be allowed to obscure the latter with lavish influence operations.
This piece was originally published in Newsweek on November 29, 2023. Read more HERE.