Former US CENTCOM Commander General (ret.) Joseph Votel spoke of the national interests driving US interests in the region: that there be no platform for activity against US and its partners; no proliferation of WMD; maintained access to major waterways and resources; no means for instability to spill over to affect the US or its allies; and a positive balance of power maintained, against the rise of other potential regional hegemons. While these issues may be less urgent than in the past, they all remain relevant. Most important, the US must maintain a competitive advantage relative over Russia and China. Iran maintains the most urgent issue on the US regional agenda; the regime may actually be subject to more pressure, though proxies will likely not de-escalate. Other states demand US attention and on this basis, different and particular action and involvement. Jihadi terrorism may become more local, and the region will likely see an attempted resurgence of ISIS. Overall, it is a strategic imperative that the US compete in this dynamic, unpredictable region, trying to wind down military conflicts and moving them to the political realm; maintaining a sustainable military presence; and reviewing security cooperation with coalition partners. This strategic imperative does not eclipse other US interests, and must be integrated with them.