How U.S. Foreign Policy Empowered Takfiri Extremism
by Sarah Deniz – April 2025
In the previous parts of this series, we explored the ideological foundations and violent expressions of Takfirism. But extremism does not thrive on theology alone. It needs weapons, funds, and—often—geopolitical cover. In this chapter, we shift focus to the United States and its significant, if often indirect, role in strengthening radical Islamist movements as part of its Cold War and post-Cold War strategy.
The “Green Belt” Strategy: Planting the Seeds
During the Cold War, the U.S. viewed Islamist movements as potential allies against the global spread of Communism. One of the most consequential ideas to emerge was the so-called “Green Belt” strategy—an initiative to surround the Soviet Union with a belt of conservative Islamic states. The thinking was simple: Islam, especially political Islam, could act as a bulwark against atheistic Marxism.
This policy led to support—both direct and indirect—for Islamist elements in key regions. The most infamous example is the U.S.-backed Mujahideen in Afghanistan, which later gave rise to al-Qaeda. Billions were funneled into training, arming, and radicalizing fighters who not only fought the Soviets, but also absorbed and spread Wahhabi and Takfiri ideas far beyond Afghanistan’s borders.
Crushing Secularism to Combat Socialism
Secular Arab leaders—many of them sympathetic to socialist ideals or aligned with the USSR—were seen as threats to U.S. influence in the Middle East. Instead of supporting secular nationalism or democratic reform, the U.S. often threw its weight behind reactionary Islamic movements to destabilize or remove those leaders.
This policy was devastatingly shortsighted. In countries like Iraq, Libya, Egypt, and Syria, secular governance models were undermined or outright destroyed—only to be replaced by theocratic or Islamist contenders often aligned with Takfiri or Salafi thinking.
Turkey: A Case Study in Manufactured Islamism
Perhaps the most revealing example is Turkey, once a shining example of secular republicanism thanks to Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s reforms. After decades of military-enforced secularism, the U.S. saw in Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his AKP (Justice and Development Party) a useful partner—one that could blend Islamic conservatism with neoliberal economics and pro-NATO policy.
Erdoğan’s roots in the Muslim Brotherhood ideological tradition were no secret. Yet, instead of opposing him, the U.S. supported his rise. Through quiet diplomatic backing, NGO partnerships, and warm relations with Washington, Erdoğan gained international legitimacy. He was portrayed in the West as a “moderate Muslim democrat”—despite cracking down on secularists, jailing journalists, and eroding the independence of Turkey’s judiciary.
Once in power, Erdoğan systematically undid Atatürk’s secular framework, bringing religious education into schools, empowering Islamist NGOs, and purging secular officers from the military and state institutions. Far from objecting, the U.S. continued working closely with Erdoğan’s government, especially in intelligence sharing, NATO operations, and regional interventions in Syria.
Proxy Power: Islamism as a Tool of Influence
From Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood to militant factions in Syria, the U.S. has repeatedly favored Islamist groups—not because it endorses their ideologies, but because they are easier to use as proxies. These groups tend to be highly mobilized, disciplined, and ideologically driven. They are useful for destabilizing regimes, countering rivals, and maintaining influence without a direct American footprint on the ground.
This cynical approach—using religion as a tool while ignoring its long-term consequences—has helped normalize and empower Takfiri-adjacent ideologies across the Islamic world. It has hollowed out secular alternatives and given political Islam a veneer of global backing.
Conclusion
The rise of Takfiri extremism is not just the product of radical theology—it is also the result of strategic choices made by world powers, particularly the United States. In its quest to weaken Communism, reshape the Middle East, and control energy corridors, Washington empowered Islamist movements that have gone on to commit atrocities across the world.
The U.S. may not have created Takfirism—but it certainly helped nurture the environment in which it flourished. Any honest reckoning with modern Islamist terror must account for this geopolitical dimension.
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