Israeli report raises doubts over Trumps Middle East strategy Middle East Monitor

An Israeli report has raised reservations about the national security strategy formulated by the administration of US President Donald Trump, arguing that it reshapes the “America First” doctrine in a manner that departs from the traditional concept of American global hegemony.

According to the report, the strategy signals that the United States will not seek to return to what it describes as the “moral leadership of the democratic-liberal camp”. Instead, Washington is expected to prioritise recognition of state sovereignty and refrain from direct involvement in the internal affairs of other countries.

The assessment expresses concern over the way Trump’s strategy presents the Middle East as a “managed file”, portraying Iran as weakened and its nuclear programme as having been eliminated, the war in Gaza as concluded, and regional normalisation as advancing steadily.

The report, issued by the Institute for National Security Studies at Tel Aviv University, cautions that this narrative may be fragile. It notes that Israel “is considered capable of reopening broad fronts”, a development that could undermine what the US administration seeks to present as a regional success story.

At the same time, the report highlights what it describes as a clear commitment within Trump’s strategy to Israel’s security, which it defines as a core US interest in the Middle East. It states that Israel remains a central strategic partner in Washington’s regional alliance system, alongside the Gulf states and Egypt.

The report concludes that the underlying message of the strategy is that Israel’s qualitative military edge in defending itself is viewed by the Trump administration as a prerequisite for a new regional order. On this basis, it argues, continued US security assistance, intelligence cooperation and diplomatic backing for Israel in international forums remain justified.

Source – Indonesia News