Carter Doctrine

The Carter Doctrine, announced by President Jimmy Carter in 1980, declared that the United States would use military force, if necessary, to protect its interests in the Persian Gulf. This response was mainly to the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan and the growing influence of communism in the region. It emphasized that the U.S. viewed any attempt by external powers to control the Gulf as a threat to its national security, committing to defend oil supplies and maintaining stability in a strategically important area. This doctrine shaped U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East for years to come.