Trump Policy in the Middle East
from Pressure Points

Trump Policy in the Middle East

More on:

Donald Trump

U.S. Foreign Policy

Middle East and North Africa

What has been the effect of two years of Trump policy in the Middle East? In the Israeli newspaper Ha'aretz (and behind their pay wall), I argue that:

When Donald Trump arrived in office U.S. influence in the Middle East was in broad decline. In the previous eight years, Iran and Russia had established vast influence and an on-the-ground presence in Syria, Iran was seen to be the rising power throughout the region, and U.S. relations with both Israel and the major Sunni Arab states were strained.  In two years Trump has turned that around.

The article concludes that:

What Trump has achieved already is a reassertion of the American presence, diplomatic in some cases (think of Jim Jeffrey’s efforts now as the new Syria envoy) and military in others. He has reasserted that the U.S. knows who its friends are and who they are not, a simple, old-fashioned yet absolutely indispensable stance for a world power. Ask Israeli officials about that - and then ask the ayatollahs.

More on:

Donald Trump

U.S. Foreign Policy

Middle East and North Africa

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