After the results of the 2024 US presidential elections, President-elect Donald Trump began forming team of his administration. He simultaneously began focusing on his expected positions on several key issues, including regarding the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip and Lebanon, and the Iranian nuclear program crisis. Positions on these issues are linked to the Trump administration’s vision and its nominations for key positions in the areas of security, defence, and foreign policy.
The Trump administration’s vision of foreign policy is based on the principle of “peace through power.” He says that he wanted to prevent the outbreak of a third world war, restore peace in Europe and the Middle East, and protect the United States (US) from any hostile attacks.
The vision of the Trump administration, and his nominations for key positions in it, suggest that we are facing a period of turmoil in American foreign policy, during the next four years, which will include in particular the Middle East region, the Russian Ukrainian war, competition with China, and the relationship with NATO.
Although Trump has repeatedly called for an end to the war in the Gaza Strip; because Israel is “losing the public relations battle.” He considers himself that he alone can end the war. He criticized, during his election campaign, what he described as the restrictions placed by the Joe Biden administration on “Israel’s right to win its war on terrorism”. Trump urged Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli Prime Minister, to “finish the mission” and destroy Hamas.
It is widely believed that Trump’s policy towards the Middle East will be the continuation of his first term, which was characterised by absolute bias towards Israel and the imposition of severe sanctions on Iran. This is evidenced by his statements during the election campaign, and the nominations he announced for some sensitive positions in foreign policy, which share absolute bias towards Israel. In his first presidential term, Trump withdrew from the nuclear agreement with Iran signed by the administration of his predecessor Barack Obama in 2015, adopting a policy of “maximum sanctions” against it. He recognised a united Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and moved the US embassy there. He closed the office of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) mission in Washington, and cut funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
During his term, the US State Department retreated from its traditional position, considering Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal, or an “obstacle to peace.” His administration recognized Israeli sovereignty over the occupied Syrian Golan Heights. Trump sought to marginalise the Palestinian issue, by focusing on Arab-Israeli normalization. This was through the Abraham Accords signed by the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco with Israel. He also sought to impose his plan known as “Peace to Prosperity” on the Palestinian Authority to liquidate what remains of Palestinian rights.
An important indicator of Trump’s position on the Palestinian issue is his nomination of former Arkansas Governor, evangelical pastor Mike Huckabee, to serve as US Ambassador to Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu, aware of the Trump administration’s orientation, was the first foreign leader to congratulate him on his election victory, and immediately appointed Yehiel Leiter as Israel’s new ambassador to Washington.
[by Arab Centre for Research and Policy Studies]
Compiled and Translated by Faizul Haque