Abstract
This essay on the foreign policy of the United States in the Middle East in the middle of the second Trump administration and the continuing conflict in Gaza and the West Bank makes the case for decades of consistency in US policy but also some nuances from the current US administration. The author makes the case that there have been three constants in US policy since the era of the Second World War. First, is the guarantee the flow of reasonably priced oil to the United States and its allies. Second, the maintenance of the state of Israel as a defender of Western interests through military, economic, and political support. Third, the maintenance of US hegemony in the regime against all challengers. During the Cold War it was the Soviet Union and today it is China. The Trump administrations have continued that triple focus while giving almost totally uncritical support to the Netanyahu government while simultaneously pursuing major business deals with the Arab states, especially Saudi Arabia. It is unclear if this approach can end the current fighting and provide a pathway to a Palestinian state.
Recommended Citation
Prevost, Gary
(2026)
"United States Middle East Policy in the Age of Donald Trump,"
The Journal of Social Encounters:
Vol. 10:
Iss.
1, 53-60.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.69755/2995-2212.1396
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.csbsju.edu/social_encounters/vol10/iss1/5
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Home > Journals > The Journal of Social Encounters > Vol. 10 (2026) > Iss. 1
United States Middle East Policy in the Age of Donald Trump
Authors
Gary Prevost, College of Saint Benedict/Saint John’s University & Nelson Mandela UniversityFollow
Abstract
This essay on the foreign policy of the United States in the Middle East in the middle of the second Trump administration and the continuing conflict in Gaza and the West Bank makes the case for decades of consistency in US policy but also some nuances from the current US administration. The author makes the case that there have been three constants in US policy since the era of the Second World War. First, is the guarantee the flow of reasonably priced oil to the United States and its allies. Second, the maintenance of the state of Israel as a defender of Western interests through military, economic, and political support. Third, the maintenance of US hegemony in the regime against all challengers. During the Cold War it was the Soviet Union and today it is China. The Trump administrations have continued that triple focus while giving almost totally uncritical support to the Netanyahu government while simultaneously pursuing major business deals with the Arab states, especially Saudi Arabia. It is unclear if this approach can end the current fighting and provide a pathway to a Palestinian state.
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Prevost, Gary (2026) "United States Middle East Policy in the Age of Donald Trump," The Journal of Social Encounters: Vol. 10: Iss. 1, 53-60.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.69755/2995-2212.1396
Available at: https://digitalcommons.csbsju.edu/social_encounters/vol10/iss1/5
DOWNLOADS
Since March 18, 2026
Included in
Anthropology Commons, Arabic Language and Literature Commons, Arabic Studies Commons, Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Commons, Inequality and Stratification Commons, International and Area Studies Commons, International Relations Commons, Islamic Studies Commons, Peace and Conflict Studies Commons, Politics and Social Change Commons, Race and Ethnicity Commons, Race, Ethnicity and Post-Colonial Studies Commons
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