Editorial
Former and now re-elected U.S. President Donald Trump’s renewed diplomatic push in the Middle East raises crucial questions: Is this a bid for global peace, a strategic realignment, or a high-stakes power play laced with business interests?
His first foreign trip of the second term mirrors his 2017 debut starting again with Saudi Arabia. But this time, the global stage is vastly more volatile. The Israeli assault on Gaza rages on, Iran’s nuclear ambitions are once again under scrutiny, and the Ukraine war continues to bleed Europe’s eastern front. Trump’s itinerary covering Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, with a possible pivot to Turkiye reflects not just concern, but calculated engagement.
At face value, the release of U.S.-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander just as Trump boarded Air Force One suggests diplomatic momentum. Trump called it “big news,” hinting at further breakthroughs. However, skepticism persists. For months, Trump appeared to cool his rhetoric on Gaza, diverging sharply from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. His tone on Iran has also shifted—moving from “maximum pressure” to tentative diplomacy, while still insisting Tehran must not obtain a nuclear weapon.
His remarks about potentially flying to Istanbul for talks on Ukraine add a new layer to his trip. If realized, it could signal a historic summit involving Presidents Zelensky and Putin—an audacious diplomatic gamble that Trump is known for.
Yet, beneath the surface lies another narrative. Trump’s longstanding ties with Gulf elites and his business ventures in the region raise questions about the interplay between statecraft and self-interest. Is this tour about peace deals or billion-dollar defense contracts? Or both?
Qatar’s role as a mediator between Hamas and Israel remains pivotal, and Trump seems to recognize that. But as the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza worsens and tensions simmer across the Red Sea and Black Sea regions, the world will be watching not just for announcements, but outcomes.
Trump’s second-term diplomacy is off to a bold start—but whether it fosters peace or fuels new alignments will depend on what follows this high-profile tour. For now, the stage is set, the stakes are high, and history awaits judgment.
