USA's Middle East policy after september 11 in the context of securitization

The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 brought about a change in the US's understanding of security. The US, which perceived communism as a threat during the Cold War, launched a war against terrorism following the September 11 attacks. The US entered a new period in its security history with the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack and shaped its threat perceptions based on this event. Following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the US's Middle East policy was reshaped within the framework of the concept of securitization. Following the changes in its security perceptions after September 11, 2001, the US began to pursue policies aimed at identifying and eliminating threats that could be directed at it in advance. During this period, combating terrorism and national security threats and perceptions became the fundamental elements determining the US's strategic decisions in the region. By adopting the securitization approach, the US increased regional and local military interventions and security cooperation under the name of combating terrorism and terrorist organizations. The military operations against Iraq and Afghanistan stand out as the most concrete examples of this strategy. The USA, which has economic and commercial interests in the Middle East, energy security, Israel's security, the security of the USA and the fight against terrorism, has increased its presence in the Middle East by using securitization policies after September 11. The Iranian nuclear issue, the Syrian crisis, the Arab Spring process and the Israel-Palestine issue are evaluated in this context. The aim of the thesis is to analyze the effects of the USA's securitization policies after September 11 on the USA's goals and practices in the Middle East. This study reveals how the USA's Middle East policy has transformed after September 11 within the framework of securitization. The hypothesis of the study is that the USA has continued its interests in the Middle East by instrumentalizing the securitization policies after September 11. In this context, the USA has continued its interests in the Middle East by instrumentalizing securitization after the September 11 attacks and increased its military presence in the Middle East.