Trump's Foreign Policy Priorities in the Middle East

The President's foreign policy priorities in the Middle East can be defined by his principle doctrine, "America First," in that it puts America's national interests of safeguarding and protecting Americans over any geopolitical ambitions to assert influence in the region.

I) Combating Terrorism

Through the lens of "America First," the President's first priority is to combat terrorist groups that have presented a threat to the United States. Combating ISIS has therefore become a top priority of the Trump administration, and has been the primary reason for American presence and involvement in the war in Syria. Within a little over a year in office, the Trump administration through its enhanced support of coalition forces on the ground had reduced the ISIS caliphate to 10% of its formerly captured territory in both Syria and Iraq. (1) In July 2017, Iraqi forces with local militias, KRG, and international forces recaptured Mosul. In October 2017, US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces recaptured Raqqa, the former ISIS capital in Syria. In May 2018, after a concerted effort to eliminate ISIS in northwest Syria, a region which includes Idlib, currently a rebel stronghold, as well as Afrin, an area occupied by the Kurdish YPG embattled by Turkish forces, the President is shifting US focus from northwest Syria to eliminating ISIS in the northeast. (2) The US military has also been involved in strikes against ISIS in Libya, albeit US efforts in Libya have been largely kept under the radar of mainstream news. In general, US military efforts in the Middle East more or less have not been openly made public, with the exception of the President's response to chemical attacks in Syria, a highly orchestrated public statement on US opposition to the use of chemical weapons.   

Afghanistan has been another area of focus for the United States in its continued war against terrorism. In August of 2017, Trump announced an increase of US troops by 4,000 in Afghanistan to combat ISIS and al Qaida, as well as prevent Taliban re-conquest of the region. With its near elimination in Syria and Iraq, ISIS presence had increased by 20% in the Nangarhar area of Afghanistan, from 1000 to 1200 militants between 2017 and 2018. (3) The United States currently has the largest number of troops on the ground in Afghanistan, with a total of 8,475 troops as of May 2018. In May 2018, President Trump has appealed to the international community to help support the Afghan troops by increasing the number of international troops on the ground, and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had reaffirmed US commitment to Afghan security and stability to Afghanistan's President, Ashraf Ghani. (4)    

II) The Iran Nuclear Threat

Despite the implementation of the Iran Nuclear Deal, the Iran nuclear threat continues to be a concern not only for the United States but for its immediate allies in the region. The opening of Iran and lifting of sanctions has resulted in the destabilization of the region through the arming and funding of Shia insurgencies in countries such as Bahrain and Yemen, the latter of which has plunged into a devastating civil war. 

The President has made clear that the US intends on withdrawing from the Iran Nuclear Deal as negotiated by the Obama admin and re-implementing bilateral sanctions in full force. The invitation to Iran to renegotiate the Iran Nuclear Deal remains, however Iran would need to be prepared to negotiate beyond dismantling its nuclear weaponry to addressing its ballistic missiles, as well as paving the way for greater democracy and freedom for its people. The stakes are high, however for the Iranian regime the administration has made clear that they are even higher. The alternative to renegotiation of the Iran Nuclear Deal, the use of force, in the event of Iranian transgressions and steps toward developing its WMDs, is by no means off the table. 

III) Israeli-Palestinian peace

Any expert in the Middle East can point out that at the heart of any conflict in the Middle East lies the issue of Israel. Support for Israel has been the primary reason for enmity against the West for Muslims who believe that Israel was stolen from the Arabs. While scholars of Islam will rightfully point out that in ancient times Israel co-existed peacefully with the Muslim world and thus such modern claims are misplaced, the issue has nevertheless fueled many a tension between the West and Middle Eastern countries, even amongst Western allies. However, in recent times with the growing threat of Shiite Iran to the stability of the region, some Arab allies such as Saudi Arabia and Egypt have opted to extend an olive branch to Israel in the face of a common enem(ies), be it Shiite Iran or the Qatar- and Turkey- funded Muslim Brotherhood. The general sentiment, however, is that those who support Israel (namely the United States) is hostile to the cause of the Palestinians and Arab claimants to the Israeli land. Middle East Peace, as defined by peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians, in essence, is therefore the key to overall peace between the West and the Middle East, and ultimately, the key to ending terrorism. 

The President has indicated staunch and unwavering support for Israel via the move of the US embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, signaling that US efforts to achieve Middle East Peace will not by any means include a compromise on Israel's right to exist and/or its claim to sovereignty over the Holy Land. 

References

1. "Next Steps for US Policy in Syria and Iraq," The Heritage Foundation, April 26, 2018. https://www.heritage.org/middle-east/report/next-steps-us-policy-syria-and-iraq

2. "Donald Trump cuts 'stabilization' funding for part of Syria, and here's why," BPR wire, May 19, 2018. https://www.bizpacreview.com/2018/05/19/donald-trump-cuts-stabilization-funding-for-part-of-syria-and-heres-why-636171

3. "IS presence grows significantly in Afghanistan despite dropping of 'Mother of All Bombs'," ITV news, May 14, 2018. http://www.itv.com/news/2018-05-14/islamic-state-mother-of-all-bombs-one-year-on/

4. "UK considers deploying extra troops to Afghanistan following pressure from President Trump, " ITV news, May 18, 2018. http://www.itv.com/news/2018-05-18/uk-considering-deploying-extra-troops-to-afghanistan/