Opinion: Trump's strategy for Middle East 'peace' is built on Israeli dominance. It will fail
The Trump administration is attempting to reshape the Middle East after launching strikes on Iran last month, adopting a strategy characterised by "peace through strength" and "commerce, not chaos".
While this approach is presented as pragmatic, it risks destabilising the region in favour of maximising US and Israeli military and economic advantage.
President Donald Trump considers himself an "expert dealmaker", believing that calculated military strikes create leverage for diplomatic gains - particularly by pressuring Iran back to the negotiating table.
His strategy emphasises overwhelming but short-term military force to achieve defined goals, avoiding prolonged entanglements or "forever wars". It also marks a rejection of nation-building, shifting the burden of regional stability onto local partners.
Though the strategic value of Middle Eastern energy resources has declined for the US, the region remains crucial - perhaps even more so under the current administration.
US President Donald Trump, seated next to Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth, hosts Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for a dinner at the White House, 7 July 2025 (Andrew Harnik/AFP via Getty)
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