Overview

• National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan's analysis of the Middle East in a Foreign Affairs magazine essay requires substantial revision, following the escalating Hamas-Israel conflict.
• Sullivan had initially praised the unprecedented calm in the Middle East a week before the Hamas attack on Israel, exposing gaps in Biden's administration's foreign analysis and policy.
• Despite the violent surprise attack, Sullivan insists this doesn't alter the U.S. approach to the Middle East, with the focus remaining on unconventional economic tools and alliance-building to advance U.S. interests.
• Critics believe the recent events exposed the inadequacies of the Biden administration's Middle East policy, as efforts to manage conflict without addressing root causes have proven to be unsuccessful.
• The violent conflict, which pulled the White House back into the Middle East, reveals the need for new thinking and strategies, challenging the perceived stability in the Middle East.