President Trump’s Foreign Policy Towards the Middle East (2016-20): A Critical Analysis

Research Article

Abstract

Since the oil discovery and Balfour Declaration in the early 20^th century, the Middle East, particularly the Arab-Israel conflict has remained the most contested subject of the international politics. The United States (US) policy towards the region has always been debatable because of its one-sided and unconditional support to Israel. The unprecedented policy tilt undertaken by the Trump administration towards Israel from 2016 to 2020 has far-reaching implications not only for the tumultuous region, but also for global politics, particularly relating to the Muslim world. This article analyzes the Trump administration’s foreign policy in the world’s most volatile and unstable region. The article focuses on the US recognition of Jerusalem as Israeli capital, Israeli sovereignty over illegal Jewish settlements in the West Bank and the strategic Golan Heights, the Deal of the Century and the Abraham Accords, and, more importantly, the policy options for Pakistan. This research is qualitative, explanatory, and descriptive, with an analytical approach that critically studies the key policy initiatives undertaken by President Trump in the Middle East and Levant.