For decades, American foreign policy in the Middle East was built on a confusing blend of idealism, guilt, and miscalculated interventionism. It often prioritized abstract moral narratives over hard national interests. But a seismic shift has occurred. Under Donald Trump’s leadership – both during his first term and now four months into his second – a new grand strategy has emerged: a model based not on fantasy, but on transactional realism. This approach may ultimately redefine America’s role in the Middle East, with consequences that extend far beyond the region.

Many attribute the rise of transactional diplomacy to Trump, and rightly so. Yet transactionalism, when executed wisely, is not simply a cold exchange of favors. It can lay the groundwork for enduring strategic visions that prioritize peace, security, and prosperity – all while advancing American interests. Trump’s new Middle East doctrine recognizes the critical failure of past administrations: sacrificing core national goals at the altar of utopian dreams and foreign entanglements.

The golden rule for any government should be clear: serve the national interest. Yet for years, American policy often seemed determined to undermine its own security and global standing, particularly in the Middle East. Some missteps were products of incompetence or naivety, but others seemed rooted in deeper ideological trends: the global rise of grievance politics, “woke” ideology, and an intellectual culture that openly derides traditional values, national identity, and even common sense itself.

The so-called “post-common-sense era” reached its zenith during the Obama administration, where soaring rhetoric often masked a dangerous erosion of American influence. Radical postmodernist ideas, once confined to the fringes, began steering the political establishment. Meanwhile, adversaries from Tehran to Beijing watched with growing confidence as American resolve withered.

The Trump presidency, despite endless domestic controversy, enacted a decisive course correction. It realigned American strategy back toward realism, self-interest, and a blunt recognition of how the world actually works. His administration reversed the erosion of American deterrence and forced global actors to once again respect – if not always like – US power.

Now, Trump’s second term is building upon these foundations, and nowhere is this more evident than in his Middle East policy.

One of the major obstacles to deeper American partnerships in the Middle East has always been the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. While the US maintains robust relations with most Gulf countries, North African states, and Israel itself, the unresolved Palestinian issue has poisoned regional trust for decades.

Traditional American strategy leaned heavily on “process” – endless rounds of negotiations, symbolic summits, and nonbinding resolutions – without ever addressing root causes. Trump’s approach is different: he demands tangible results, not endless diplomatic theater.

Trump understands that real prosperity, both for the Middle East and for American interests there, depends on security. No investment, no cultural renaissance, no regional partnerships can survive without a foundation of peace. And peace requires courage, not bureaucracy.

Thus, Trump is preparing to leverage all tools available – including America’s economic power, its military might, and its extensive networks of influence – to pressure both Israelis and Palestinians toward a final settlement.

Importantly, this pressure will not be one-sided.

During his first term, Trump was arguably the most supportive American president Israel has ever known. He recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, moved the US embassy to Jerusalem, endorsed settlements, and negotiated the groundbreaking Abraham Accords. American financial and military aid to Israel reached historic highs.

But these gestures were met with troubling responses from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Instead of using this unprecedented support to pursue peace or regional integration, Netanyahu doubled down on hardline policies: refusing flexibility on Gaza, agitating for direct US confrontation with Iran, engaging in reckless military operations in Syria, and – according to multiple reports – interfering in US political affairs.

From Trump’s perspective, Netanyahu became a liability: taking everything offered, giving little in return, and risking American credibility along the way.

In his second term, Trump is making it clear: America will not be Israel’s automatic enabler. Friendship, after all, is not about blind loyalty but about honest, sometimes tough, guidance. If Israel continues down a path of intransigence and isolation, it risks alienating not just regional neighbors, but also its most powerful ally.

Trump recognizes that saving Israel from its own worst instincts – and from leaders who prioritize short-term political gain over long-term survival – is the ultimate act of friendship.

Meanwhile, Trump’s growing partnership with Saudi Arabia reflects another pillar of his grand strategy. The Saudis have long maintained that resolving the Palestinian issue is key to lasting peace in the region. Trump’s recognition of this view signals a major pivot: Washington will no longer treat Palestinian aspirations as an afterthought.

This shift does not mean pandering to extremist factions or enabling terrorism. It means recognizing that without dignity, autonomy, and economic opportunity for Palestinians, radicalization will continue to fester. Stability requires more than military victories; it requires just, pragmatic political solutions.

Saudi Arabia – along with other Gulf states – is ready to deepen ties with Israel, provided there is credible movement on the Palestinian front. Trump knows this. Unlike previous administrations, he is willing to apply pressure on both sides – leveraging US influence over Israel while incentivizing Arab states to commit to normalization.

The comparison to the Suez Crisis of 1956 is instructive. Back then, the United States shocked the world by forcing Britain, France, and Israel to withdraw from their ill-fated military campaign against Egypt. That moment marked the true beginning of America’s global leadership, where even its closest allies were reminded that partnership does not mean subservience.

Today, a similar opportunity beckons. By asserting independence from entrenched lobbies and parochial interests, America can reclaim its role as a fair, powerful arbiter in the Middle East – respected by all, feared by some, and trusted by those who seek peace.

If Trump can succeed where so many have failed – in moving the Middle East beyond grievance politics and into a new era of prosperity – his legacy will be far more profound than even his fiercest critics imagine.

This is America’s chance to lead again – not by sacrificing its interests, but by fulfilling them through strength, clarity, and an unshakable commitment to reality over rhetoric.

And if Trump cannot accomplish this, it is hard to see who ever will.

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Source: Weekly Blitz :: Writings