I am reminded of the WW3 opening Salvo from Alas Babylon. Pat Frank contended that the "Med" is the linchpin of European control. While I don't see a Sci-Fi novelist is the best person for Geopolitical Analysis, he may have been on to something. Let's look at the changes that have occurred in the last few decades regarding Mediterranean political structure. Libya, Egypt, Greece, Turkey, Lebanon, Italy, Spain, France, and others have had significant political, social, and economic changes in recent decades. These changes have either weakened US interests and ability to project power via economic or political change, or have strengthened unfriendly relationships with those nations which were insignificant brokers in the region in the past. What are your impressions on this hypothesis given the significant changes that have occurred in the Mediterranean nations?

One thing is for certain, the actions of more current administrations reads like an enemy state's prescription if the goal was to eliminate US influence in the Med.