This article analyzes the US policy towards Syria and Libya before the Arab Spring. In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, Washington's Middle East strategy was determined by factors such as energy security, the fight against terrorism, and the spread of democratic values. Syria and Libya had a special place in the US's regional policy because these countries had factors that affected both the US's geopolitical interests and international security strategy. The article examines the main aspects of the US policy towards Syria: In the early 2000s, the US imposed sanctions on the Bashar al-Assad regime and tried to weaken it with an international isolation policy. However, Syria resisted this pressure by strengthening its close relations with Iran and Russia. Although the US pursued a strategy based more on diplomatic and economic pressure on Syria, its preference for military intervention in Libya led to long-term instability in the region. As a result, the article reveals that the US strategy towards the Middle East before and after the Arab Spring affected not only regional security but also the international balance of power.
Key words: USA, Arab Spring, Middle East, Libya, Syria