U.S. Ambassador to Türkiye and Special Presidential Envoy for Syria and Iraq Tom Barrack called for Middle Eastern governments to shoulder more of their own security Oct. 20, amid higher oil shipping costs.
Speaking at the Global Security Forum in Doha, Barrack described a shift away from the traditional oil-for-security approach, Al Jazeera reported. Jewish Insider reported that he favored U.S. participation in regional security arrangements while leaving governments to decide their own political direction.
Barrack pointed to unsuccessful U.S. attempts to replace governments in the region as a reason to change course.
The question of Washington's role is also being tested by the war with Iran. Asked whether U.S. military involvement in that conflict had been a mistake, Barrack said he did not know, Jewish Insider reported. He called for a negotiated settlement.
At a separate forum session, Dr. Majed bin Mohammed Al Ansari, Qatar's adviser to the prime minister and official Foreign Ministry spokesperson, called for continued mediation. He also warned that media pressure could harm negotiations.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) estimated in its Oct. 6 outlook that the Brent crude spot price averaged $114 a barrel in September 2026, up $23 from August. It projected an average of $105 a barrel in the fourth quarter of 2026.
The EIA said risks to tankers were increasing shipping and insurance costs, adding to the price of crude delivered to refiners. That pressure was also the focus of earlier EconoTimes coverage of Middle East tanker costs. The agency expected Middle Eastern oil flows to remain constrained through the fourth quarter.
