Defense Priorities Defense Priorities
  • Policy Topics
    • Israel-Iran
    • Ukraine-Russia
    • NATO
    • China
    • Syria
  • Research
    • Briefs
    • Explainers
    • Reports
  • Programs
    • Grand Strategy Program
    • Military Analysis Program
    • Asia Program
    • Middle East Program
  • Experts
  • Events
  • Media
  • About
    • Mission & Vision
    • People
    • Jobs
    • Contact
  • Donate
Select Page
Home / Middle East / Trump needs to stop involving himself in Middle East drama
Middle East, Iran, Israel‑Hamas, Yemen

May 29, 2025

Trump needs to stop involving himself in Middle East drama

By Christopher McCallion

President Trump recently visited a number of Persian Gulf countries, amid intense speculation about his administration’s policy toward the Middle East.

If only his policy were to disengage from the region altogether.

Earlier this month, Trump announced that the U.S. had made a deal to halt strikes on the Houthis in Yemen. Middle East special envoy Steve Witkoff has continued to engage in talks with Iran toward a nuclear deal, while disagreements over the issue have roiled Trump’s Cabinet and the Pentagon. The president also announced that he would lift sanctions on Syria and met with its new de facto leader Ahmed al-Shara, a former al-Qaeda militant.

Meanwhile, Israel’s security cabinet has approved a plan to raze and occupy Gaza, permanently displacing its 2 million Palestinian inhabitants. Trump has previously suggested that the U.S. will “take over Gaza” and has suggested that its Palestinian residents be “cleaned out.”

Read at The Hill

Author

Photo of Chris McCallion

Christopher
McCallion

Fellow

Defense Priorities

More on Middle East

op-edSyria, Israel, Middle East

Israel’s calculus on Syria

By Daniel DePetris and Rajan Menon

July 17, 2025

op-edIsrael‑Iran, Iran, Israel, Middle East, Nuclear weapons

LTE: Attacks on Iran slow nuclear programme yet solve nothing

By Daniel DePetris

July 15, 2025

op-edIsrael‑Iran, Iran, Middle East

LTE: Regime change in Tehran isn’t worth the risk

By Daniel DePetris

July 15, 2025

op-edGrand strategy, Iran, Israel, Middle East

Is the Middle East really on the verge of a new dawn?

By Daniel DePetris

July 10, 2025

ExplainerMilitary analysis, Air power, Basing and force posture, Land power, Naval power

Aligning global military posture with U.S. interests

By Jennifer Kavanagh and Dan Caldwell

July 9, 2025

op-edIsrael‑Iran, Iran, Israel, Middle East

Why the Israel-Iran ceasefire feels like a strategic failure

By Alexander Langlois

July 8, 2025

Events on Middle East

See All Events
virtualGreat power competition, Balance of power, China, Grand strategy, Middle East

Past Virtual Event: U.S.-China competition and the value of Middle East influence

June 10, 2025
virtualMiddle East, Basing and force posture, Diplomacy, Houthis, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Israel‑Hamas, Military analysis, Syria

Past Virtual Event: Trump in the Middle East: Impacts, implications, and alternatives

May 16, 2025
virtualSyria, Balance of power, Basing and force posture, Counterterrorism, Middle East, Military analysis

Past Virtual Event: Syria after Assad: Prospects for U.S. withdrawal

February 21, 2025

Receive expert foreign policy analysis

Join the hub of realism and restraint

Expert updates and analysis to enhance your understanding of vital U.S. national security issues

Defense Priority Mono Logo

Our mission is to inform citizens, thought leaders, and policymakers of the importance of a strong, dynamic military—used more judiciously to protect America’s narrowly defined national interests—and promote a realistic grand strategy prioritizing restraint, diplomacy, and free trade to ensure U.S. security.

  • About
  • For Media
  • Jobs
  • Donate
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Contact
© 2025 Defense Priorities All Right Reserved