The phrase "Arc of Instability" has separately also been used by the National Intelligence Council to describe "a great arc of instability stretching from Sub-Saharan Africa through North Africa, into the Middle East, the Balkans, the Caucasus, and South and Central Asia, and parts of Southeast Asia."
Istilah "Busur Ketidakstabilan" digunakan oleh National Intelligence Council untuk menyebut "busur besar ketidakstabilan yang merentang dari Afrika Sub-Sahara melintasi Afrika Utara, Timur Tengah, Balkan, Kaukasus, Asia Selatan dan Tengah, dan sebagian Asia Tenggara."