Between Stability and Influence: Understanding Global Power in the Arab World

posted on: Apr 15, 2026

By Ben Samuels/Arab America Contributing Writer

Sectors of the Arab World have, over time, been exposed to extensive interference from global powers such as the United States, Russia, and China. Through military operations, economic ploys, and behind-the-scenes political involvement, these nations have molded the region in ways that many others have not experienced to the same extent. The prevalence of proxy warfare and political influence raises an important question: why are global powers so strongly invested in the Arab World? While the answer is highly multifaceted, a central tension emerges between the pursuit of stability and the desire for influence, as there is a logical case for both. This raises a broader question: Is stability or influence the stronger driving force behind global powers’ actions in the region?

Stability/USA

Stability has been a driving factor in global interaction in the Arab World, given the region’s overall importance, including its immense oil reserves. In regard to the U.S, when we see disruption in the region, oil prices tend to drastically spike, thus causing a pressing issue for the American consumer and economy. The Council on Foreign Relations mentions that“Global market anxiety about energy supply disruptions drives crude oil prices past $100 per barrel for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic.” When referring to the impact of the Iran war on oil prices, in addition, PBS reported that “The Labor Department reported last week that soaring gasoline prices pushed consumer prices up 3.3% last month from a year earlier, the biggest year-over-year increase since May 2024. Compared to February, March consumer prices jumped 0.9%, biggest gain in nearly four years.” This proves that maintaining stability in the region is key to U.S. interests, as gas prices are almost always a strong motivator for American voters to swing one way or another.

Stability/Russia

Regarding Russia, Putin wants stability for a different reason. Russia is part of OPEC+, which gives it an incentive to keep the region stable, as when it spirals out of control, OPEC+ relies on consistency, and when the oil market is unpredictable, the organization starts to falter. This hurts Russia because much of its export economy is centered around the oil market, and unpredictability is the number one enemy.

Stability/China

Regarding China, they want stability for various reasons. According to the Center on Global Energy Policy, China gets over half its oil from the Middle East, so stability keeps these prices at bay. In addition, China has many infrastructure projects in the region. Especially in Saudi Arabia, when the region becomes unstable, the Saudis get pulled into issues, and their projects, which China plays a key role in, may be put on pause, which goes against China’s interests. Overall, all three of these superpowers need the Arab World to maintain stability because it keeps their economic interests aligned, largely through oil. As a result, there is an increased incentive for them to stay and interfere with the area to ensure stability, but not for the people of the nations.   

Influence

On the other hand, Influence has kept the U.S, China, and Russia hanging around in the Arab World for quite some time. The U.S. is largely using the region through military operations and bases to stay at the top of the global food chain. Russia is maintaining a presence, mainly through work in Syria, to cling to the remnants of the USSR’s influence, while China prefers to spread its influence economically. If the U.S leaves the region, it could potentially lose some of the influence they have as they have the most military bases in the Arab World and they are spread all over. This physical presence allows the U.S to be prepared for all regional conflicts, as they have been for the Iran war, and to continue to play the role of the global policeman. China, on the other hand, remains in the region to spread influence, as it has become deeply ingrained in Saudi and Egyptian plans for the future through the Belt and Road initiative. China has also been able to secure trade routes, and if it were to pull out of the region, it wouldn’t be able to ingrain itself in the future and spread Chinese economic interests. Lastly, Putin is seemingly trying to salvage the level of power and influence that the USSR once had; however, he has remained largely unsuccessful. Russia played a large role in the Syrian civil war as it backed Bashar al-Assad greatly in an attempt to keep a behind-the-scenes role in Syrian politics. This attempt failed following the 2024 overthrow; however, influence through presence has remained crucial. Overall, all three of these nations credit influence as a main reason for the extensive interference they have experienced, both publicly and behind the scenes, in the Arab World. 

Conclusion

Overall, the overwhelming levels of interference in the Arab World from the global superpowers are fueled by both a desire for stability from an economic and self-interest standpoint, as well as an increasing need for influence through policy, planning, and military means. 

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