Between Activism and Isolationism: What to Expect From Trump’s Middle East Policy

Source:Foreign Policy Research Institute Date:19Nov2024

• Although the United States has long sought to reduce its involvement in the Middle East, the looming threat of regional war, opportunities arising from the Abraham Accords and Iran’s weakened influence, and growing US-China competition will likely push Washington to be more engaged and strengthen alliances to realign the region with US priorities.

• The choices for key foreign policy and national security roles so far suggest a preference for an activist US policy in the region rather than an isolationist approach. However, it should not be ruled out that future US policy may still retain notable isolationist elements, driven in part by Trump’s own reluctance toward troop deployments and foreign interventions.

• All things considered, Trump’s victory appears to shift regional power dynamics in favor of Israel and Gulf countries and put Iran in a disadvantageous position.

The section on Syria is very important for Turkey, which wants US troop withdrawal. What does Trump think?  Read on..