Middle Eastern states still need Western allies

At first glance, the West looks set to be amongst the biggest losers from the political turmoil hitting the Arab world. The toppled regimes in Egypt and Tunisia were staunch Western allies. The same goes for Libya, which despite years of isolation has recently opened its doors to multinationals. There will undoubtedly be calls for a change in Middle Eastern international relations. However, the new regimes still need support from the West and its allies in the region.