Donald Trump recently addressed the 80th United Nations General Assembly, delivering a speech that lasted 57 minutes and focused on his administration’s foreign policy initiatives and relationships with Arab nations. So, during the week’s visit, he met individually with the leaders from eight Arab and Islamic states. Those stops included Qatar, Jordan, Egypt, the UAE and Saudi Arabia where he engaged in discussions focused on regional stability and his vision for the Middle East.
With Trump’s imminent return to the White House, the issue is attracting renewed attention, especially Trump’s plan for ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He reportedly informed these leaders that he would advise Israel against moving forward with plans to annex parts of the West Bank. His remarks come as states in the Gulf grow more anxious over Israel’s actions in the region. They are especially concerned about the possible impact on regional security.
Relations with Gulf States
In his speech, Trump underscored the significance of his rapport with Gulf states. He emphasized that in his new term starting this past January, he made them first on his travel schedule. He said that his administration brought the biggest progress in developing the region partnerships.
In May, I went to the Middle East to see my friends. I made it a priority to restore our relationships with our allies in the Gulf, and deepen our important ties with our new allies—Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE,” Trump said. He referred to them as being “closer than ever before.” This is a sign of changing dynamics that could reshape the political playing field.
Tensions remain palpable. As one senior official in the Gulf told us, “Today the only threat in this region is Israel. This observation underscores the mounting concern shared by many Arab rulers about Israel’s new-found hubris. This new reality underlines a dramatic change in the mood. Israel today is not perceived not as a nation surrounded by hostility, but instead as the hostile actor itself.
Trump’s Claims and Controversies
There’s a lot to unpack in Trump’s speech to the United Nations that has progressives and other critics gawking, here are four claims worth critiquing. He claimed that he had put an end to seven different wars since his return to the White House, a claim that most people find impossible to believe.
“I did it in just seven months. It’s never happened before. There’s never been anything like that. He just told me how very honored he was to be able to do it. He lamented he wished he had to take these actions in place of relying on the United Nations.
Critics allege that Trump overstates his successes. He is undeterred in introducing them as a core element of his “America First” foreign policy agenda.
The 21-Point Plan for Regional Governance
In addition to addressing security concerns and Israel’s ambitions, Trump unveiled a comprehensive 21-point plan aimed at fostering governance and security in Gaza and surrounding areas. The plan’s details are still shrouded in secrecy. It is surely going to set the tone for more productive cooperation between Gulf states and Israel.
During a White House Press Conference last week, Trump clearly doubled down on support for Israel’s plans on the West Bank. As a candidate, he avowed, “I’m not going to let Israel annex the West Bank … It’s not going to happen. This unwavering stance is an attempt to calm Arab partners’ fears that have been stoked by Israeli territorial aggrandizement.
Additionally, as Trump’s comments on his experience at the UN suggest, his critique got at the core of his frustration with the organization. He quipped, “The only thing I received from the United Nations was an escalator that only went halfway up. And a broken teleprompter.” His words could be no clearer—he was not happy with the way the organization does business.
