
Trump’s Middle East Tour Reshapes Regional Dynamics, Sidelines Israel
Former President Donald Trump’s four-day visit to the Middle East has dramatically shifted the region’s diplomatic landscape—boosting Arab states’ standing in U.S. foreign policy while leaving close ally Israel increasingly on the sidelines.
Marking his first international trip of a second term, Trump visited Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), signaling a clear pivot in U.S. priorities. He made headlines with billion-dollar economic agreements, unveiled new foreign policy stances, and received lavish receptions. Notably absent from his itinerary: Israel.
During his stop in Saudi Arabia, Trump held a historic face-to-face meeting with Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa—the first direct U.S.-Syria presidential encounter in 25 years. Analysts say the tour reflects a broader realignment in the region, with Sunni-led Arab nations emerging as the new centerpiece of U.S. strategy and Israel increasingly marginalized.
According to Middle Eastern and Western sources cited by Reuters, the Trump administration appears to be recalibrating its approach to reflect a rapidly changing geopolitical reality. The Gulf region is not only resource-rich but strategically positioned to enhance global trade and connectivity.
“President Trump sees tremendous opportunity in the Middle East,” said Turki Faisal al-Rasheed, a professor at the University of Arizona. “He’s using these partnerships not just to reassert U.S. global influence, but to move away from a traditional foreign policy that placed Israel at the core.”
The decision to skip Israel is seen by insiders as a subtle rebuke to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu amid mounting frustration in Washington over the ongoing war in Gaza. In Trump’s emerging Middle East vision—centered around pragmatic diplomacy and regional deal-making—Netanyahu can no longer count on unconditional U.S. support.
“There’s real dissatisfaction with Netanyahu inside the current U.S. administration,” said David Schenker, former Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs under George W. Bush. “They prefer reciprocity, and right now, Netanyahu is seen as taking without giving anything back.”
Still, Washington hasn’t abandoned Israel. Bipartisan support for Tel Aviv remains strong. But sources say the Trump administration is sending a clear message: the U.S. has broader interests in the region and won’t allow Israeli concerns to dictate its agenda.
David Makovsky of the Washington Institute observed that the U.S. and Israel “seem increasingly out of sync” on major regional issues, even just 100 days into Trump’s new term.
Trump’s trip reinforced Saudi Arabia’s leadership among Sunni Arab states, while Iran’s influence appeared to be waning. Armed groups supported by Tehran—such as Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon—have suffered major setbacks amid ongoing Israeli military operations.
“Iran used to dominate the regional conversation, but now Saudi Arabia is stepping up with tools like finance, investment, and diplomacy,” a senior Middle Eastern source told Reuters.
Trump did not pressure Riyadh to normalize relations with Israel, saying Saudi Arabia could do so “on its own timeline.” Meanwhile, the U.S. is negotiating a civilian nuclear energy deal with the kingdom—an arrangement that’s raising alarm in Tel Aviv.
In Qatar, Trump praised Doha for its “supportive role” in helping manage Israel’s hostage crisis—comments that rattled Israeli officials. Qatar is seen by many in Israel as a strategic threat due to its ties with Hamas, a group openly hostile to Tel Aviv.
“Many Israelis don’t understand how vital Qatar has become to the U.S.,” said Yoel Guzansky, a researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies at Tel Aviv University. Qatar is home to the largest U.S. military base in the Middle East, and its vast gas reserves, financial power, and diplomatic outreach have made it indispensable to Washington.
Meanwhile, Arab countries are pushing their own agendas. Trump’s unexpected announcement to lift sanctions on Syria—a major policy reversal—came at the request of Saudi Arabia, despite vocal opposition from Israel.
Gulf states also welcomed Trump’s ceasefire deal with Yemen’s Houthi rebels, an Iran-backed group still launching attacks against Israel in solidarity with Hamas.
“Israel is increasingly viewed as an obstacle—not just by the U.S., but by the international community—at a time when Washington is trying to reshape the region after Assad’s collapse, Hezbollah’s decline, and the potential end to the Gaza war,” Guzansky said.
The Netanyahu government has remained silent on Trump’s trip, but insiders say Israeli officials are deeply concerned about the potential for Trump to strike a quick nuclear deal with Iran—and about the growing influence of Arab leaders in shaping the U.S. president’s thinking.
Israeli media have voiced anxiety over the apparent erosion of the U.S.-Israel alliance. Opposition figures have criticized Netanyahu for allowing Israel to be sidelined while a new regional order takes shape.
“The Middle East is changing before our eyes—our adversaries are gaining strength while Prime Minister Netanyahu and his allies appear paralyzed and irrelevant,” former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett wrote on X.
(Sources: Reuters, Arab News, AP)
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