US President Donald Trump is working on a broad post-war strategy for the Middle East that could reshape Washington’s regional approach after the Iran
war ends, with plans reportedly focusing on containing Iran and deepening ties between Israel and Arab countries. The strategy is still being developed by senior Trump administration advisers and officials across several US government agencies, according to an Axios report citing two US officials and two other people familiar with the discussions. Trump has privately told people that he is working on “something much bigger” for the Middle East once the war with Iran is over. Three Key Elements Of The Plan One part of the emerging strategy involves bringing US allies across the region into closer alignment against Iran, with Washington potentially serving as the security guarantor. The administration is also exploring ways to reduce or resolve conflicts and tensions that have persisted since the October 7, 2023 attacks. This could include advancing the next phase of Trump’s Gaza plan, negotiating a security arrangement between Israel and Syria, and implementing the existing Israel-Lebanon agreement. A third element would involve expanding the Abraham Accords and seeking a normalisation agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia. A Saudi-Israeli deal would represent a major diplomatic achievement for Trump and could become a centrepiece of his administration’s Middle East policy following the Iran war. Israel Election Could Complicate Strategy Israel is scheduled to hold elections on October 27, while the US midterm elections are due to take place in November. Trump’s team hopes the Israeli government formed after the election will be willing to work with Washington on the proposed regional strategy. However, US officials do not appear prepared to wait for Israel’s political situation to settle before moving forward. According to the sources, some officials believe Trump could proceed with the strategy even if the Israeli election results in another political deadlock. Plan Still Being Developed Trump has already discussed the emerging strategy during two meetings with senior advisers in recent weeks, with officials presenting different ideas for the region. However, a person briefed on the discussions said the administration could need several more weeks before the strategy is finalised. “They are cooking it, but it is not yet cooked,” the source said. “The idea is to tie a whole lot of things in the region together - how you create a regional alignment after the war. It is still unclear if all US allies in the region will be on board,” the person added. The proposed strategy remains in development, and it is not yet clear whether Washington’s regional allies will ultimately support the full plan.
