{
  "id": 15800730,
  "title": "Shifting role of US in Middle East is like ‘raising a teenager’, ambassador says",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/20/shifting-role-of-us-in-middle-east-is-like-raising-a-teenager-15800730",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-20T20:37:55.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Middle East Eye",
    "slug": "middle-east-eye",
    "url": "https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/shifting-role-us-middle-east-raising-teenager-ambassador-says"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Former US Ambassador Tom Barrack likened the shifting role of the United States in the Middle East to \"raising a teenager.\" He told a gathered audience at the Global Security Forum in Doha, Qatar, that the US is \"transitioning\" away from its previous \"grand bargain\" approach, in which it provided security for oil. \"America as the guarantor to the world for the last 80 years, it is no longer there,\" Barrack stated. As the senior US official and confidant of President Donald Trump, he emphasized that the US no longer seeks to \"own\" the region. Barrack explained that conflict and controversy were beneficial for the West, as they allowed for manipulation of fossil fuels for the US's benefit. He further noted that the region is no longer in a state where such manipulation is possible.",
  "summary": "Shifting role of US in Middle East is like ‘raising a teenager’, ambassador says The US no longer wants its “grand bargain” with the Arabian Gulf, providing security in exchange for oil, and is “transitioning” to a new approach, in a major shift that is “like raising a teenager”, a senior US official and confidant of President Donald Trump said. “America as the guarantor to the world, for the…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 11,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Al Jazeera",
        "title": "US leaving oil-for-security approach, not Middle East: Envoy Tom Barrack",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/20/us-leaving-oil-for-security-approach-not-middle-east-envoy-tom-barrack",
        "published": "2026-10-20T10:36:57.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Jerusalem Post",
        "title": "Pentagon deploys USS Theodore Roosevelt to Middle East as Trump weighs Iran strikes - report",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/20/pentagon-deploys-uss-theodore-roosevelt-to-middle-east-as-trump",
        "published": "2026-10-20T16:22:32.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Ajel English",
        "title": "Reef Group named Middle East Retailer of the Year 2026 at Beautyworld",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/20/reef-group-named-middle-east-retailer-of-the-year-2026-at-beautyworld",
        "published": "2026-10-20T16:53:58.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Hill",
        "title": "Trump posts photos of ‘trash island’ after intense court hearing over East Potomac renovation",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/20/trump-posts-photos-of-trash-island-after-intense-court-hearing-over",
        "published": "2026-10-20T17:11:05.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The National UAE",
        "title": "Middle East latest: Iran says supertanker 'exploded' near Strait of Hormuz",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/20/middle-east-latest-iran-says-supertanker-exploded-near-strait-of",
        "published": "2026-10-20T17:56:37.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Al-Monitor",
        "title": "US moving away from Middle East security guarantor role, Barrack says",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/20/us-moving-away-from-middle-east-security-guarantor-role-barrack-says",
        "published": "2026-10-20T18:42:17.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Middle East Eye",
        "title": "Shifting role of US in Middle East is like ‘raising a teenager’, ambassador says",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/20/shifting-role-of-us-in-middle-east-is-like-raising-a-teenager",
        "published": "2026-10-20T19:13:47.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "CBS News",
        "title": "U.S. ramps up warnings to Americans in Middle East after Houthi strikes",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/20/u-s-ramps-up-warnings-to-americans-in-middle-east-after-houthi-strikes",
        "published": "2026-10-20T19:41:20.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "FIA boss happy for F1 to race in Middle East, less sure about Dakar Rally",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/20/fia-boss-happy-for-f1-to-race-in-middle-east-less-sure-about-dakar",
        "published": "2026-10-20T20:05:09.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Post Nigeria",
        "title": "Iran defiant as US deploys third warship to Middle East",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/20/iran-defiant-as-us-deploys-third-warship-to-middle-east",
        "published": "2026-10-20T21:23:33.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}