Trump Advances Middle East Policy, Sidelines Israel Amid Gulf Tour

During his recent visit to the Saudi royal palace, President Trump met with Syria’s new leader and announced plans to lift sanctions on the country, highlighting a notable shift in U.S. Middle East diplomacy that appears to marginalize Israel’s influence.

Describing Syria’s President Ahmed al-Shara as a “tough guy” with a “very strong past,” the president declared an end to many of the sanctions imposed under Syria’s former regime, aiming to provide the nation an opportunity to achieve progress.

This move effectively disregards Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s concerns, as Israel classifies al-Shara as a jihadist. Since December, Israel’s military has conducted numerous airstrikes in Syria, targeting rebel forces led by al-Shara that ousted President Bashar al-Assad.

Historically, Israel has held a central position in American foreign policy in the Middle East, with Netanyahu playing a pivotal role over the past two decades despite occasional tensions with U.S. leaders.

There is no indication that the United States plans to sever its longstanding military and economic support for Israel. In fact, during his flight from Riyadh to Doha, President Trump dismissed concerns about sidelining Israel, emphasizing that his broadening relationships with numerous Middle Eastern countries ultimately benefit Israel.

“Not at all,” the president responded to reporters’ questions, asserting that fostering ties with almost all Middle Eastern nations is advantageous for Israel.