Regional Approaches to Proliferation Prevention -- Why Focus on Regions -- The Stanley Foundation

Why Focus on Regions?

It may seem that the new realities of transnational terrorism and the global "war on terror" require a purely global focus in conceptualizing US foreign and security policies over the long-term. Alternately, many experts might point to the necessity of shoring up US bilateral relations with current or potential allies, such as South Korea, Japan, India, and Israel. Both the global and the bilateral points of view are necessary in any comprehensive assessment of US policy options. However, one only has to consider the international events of the first post-Cold War decade to find compelling reasons not to abandon a broad regional outlook as a necessary component of national security strategy:

Regional differences have repeatedly challenged the norms and goals of global nonproliferation regimes. The threat environments of the Middle East, South Asia, and the Korean peninsula have required supplementary strategies for preventing the spread of missiles and weapons of mass destruction.
Many of the issues fueling the Al Qaeda-related terrorist cells and training camps are centered around conflicts in two specific areas of the world: the Persian Gulf region—particularly Iraq's relationships with its neighbors—and Israel and Palestine

Successful resolution of these diverse national security challenges will require that the United States deal with the regional issues involved, align regional initiatives with global concerns and regimes, and use US bilateral relations to leverage solutions. In this regard, sound regional security frameworks can provide essential economic, political, and military foundations for making global security initiatives workable.