Trump Administration Developing Post-War Middle East Strategy

<p>The Trump administration is developing a post-war strategy aimed at containing Iran and promoting normalization of relations between Israel and its neighboring countries, according to two U.S. officials and two additional sources familiar with the matter.</p><p><strong>Importance:</strong> The plan is in the early drafting stages and is intended to shape the U.S. approach in the Middle East following the conclusion of the war with Iran and during the final two years of Trump's presidency. Key events influencing this planning include the upcoming elections in Israel on October 27 and the U.S. midterm elections in November.</p><hr /><p><strong>Background:</strong> Initial discussions regarding the strategy are occurring at both senior political levels and among various agencies within the Trump administration, as reported by U.S. officials.</p><ul><li>In recent weeks, President Trump has conducted two meetings with senior advisers to discuss the plan and generate ideas, according to sources.</li><li>Trump has indicated in private conversations that he is working on a significant initiative in the Middle East following the war with Iran.</li><li>The White House has not provided comments on the matter.</li></ul><p><strong>Key components</strong> being considered for the strategy include:</p><ul><li>Establishing a regional alignment among U.S. allies to contain Iran, with the U.S. acting as a guarantor.</li><li>Making efforts to address the regional consequences of the October 7 attacks by advancing Trump's Gaza plan, facilitating a security agreement between Israel and Syria, and implementing the Israel-Lebanon agreement.</li><li>Expanding the Abraham Accords and pursuing a normalization agreement between Saudi Arabia and Israel.</li></ul><p><strong>Considerations:</strong> The Trump administration anticipates that a new Israeli government formed after the October 27 elections will be cooperative regarding the post-war strategy.</p><ul><li>However, some U.S. officials emphasize that Trump intends to pursue the strategy regardless of the outcomes of the Israeli elections, even if they result in a political stalemate.</li></ul><p><strong>Next steps:</strong> A source familiar with the process indicated that it will take several more weeks to finalize the new strategy. "They are cooking it but it is not yet cooked," the source stated.</p><ul><li>"The idea is to integrate various elements in the region — how to establish a regional alignment after the war. It remains uncertain if all U.S. allies in the region will support this initiative," the individual added.</li></ul>