The Iranian revolution and Soviet invasion of Afghanistan triggered the Carter Doctrine

Evidence

Through the 1970s, the Middle East remained one of the few regions on Earth to see relatively little Cold War competition and a small U.S. base presence. For the most part, U.S. officials sought to increase American influence in the area by backing and arming the regional powers Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Iran under the shah. But after the Iranian revolution overthrew the shah in early 1979, and the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in December of that year, the approach changed dramatically. In his January 1980 State of the Union address, President Jimmy Carter announced a policy change that rivaled Roosevelt’s destroyers-for-bases deal in its significance for the nation and the world. Enunciating what became known as the Carter Doctrine, President Carter spoke about the importance of the region “now threatened by Soviet troops.” He warned the Soviet Union and other countries that “an attempt by any outside force to gain control of the Persian Gulf region will be regarded as an assault on the vital interests of the United States of America.” He added pointedly, “Such an assault will be repelled by any means necessary, including military force.” — David Vine, Base Nation_ How U.S. Military Bases…, 98

Categorization

• DEFINE: Establishes what the Carter Doctrine is and its exact language.
• XREF: connects to: The 1984 conference framed terrorism as state-sponsored by Soviet Union and Iran