Trump 2.0: US Policy Shifts Amid a Changing Middle East Landscape
Eight months into the second Trump administration, the Middle East has become a more prominent focus of overall U.S. foreign policy. This first eight months was one of high operations tempo for the United States and included President Trump’s Gulf trip; a major policy shift to lift sanctions on Syria and meet with Syria’s de facto leader, Ahmed Al-Sharaa; U.S. military strikes against Iran’s nuclear sites along with U.S. support for a 12-day Israeli military campaign targeting Iran’s nuclear program, military leadership, and infrastructure; and diplomacy in the region led by prominent Trump envoys Steve Witkoff and Tom Barrack.
The impact of these significant actions by the United States in the Middle East remains mixed. Close U.S. partners in the Middle East, particularly the countries Trump visited in May, have seen new opportunities to deepen strategic, economic, energy, technological, and military ties with the United States. However, the impact of Trump’s tariffs and broader trade war may ultimately undercut these openings to strengthen bilateral relations and incentivize regional partners to diversify their global economic relationships.
Iran, Israel-Palestine, and the Houthis in Yemen remain the three major unresolved variables in the Middle East equation. While Iran’s nuclear and military infrastructure suffered considerable damage, it is unclear if these actions will produce a lasting resolution to concerns about Iran’s nuclear program and destabilizing actions. The weakest link in U.S. policy in the Middle East remains the Israel-Palestinian front as the war between Israel and Hamas continues. In contrast, Syria and Lebanon present key opportunities for U.S. policy and engagement, but this will require sustained U.S. diplomatic engagement over the months and years ahead.
This presentation will assess whether Trump 2.0’s overall foreign policy approach—characterized by transactional diplomacy, selective military engagement, and attempts to use America’s economic power to gain global leverage—is likely to produce a more durable and sustainable security environment in the Middle East, amid a rapidly evolving regional landscape.
Thursday, September 18th I 11:10 am – 1:00 pm
* Luncheon Event *
Venue:
Holland & Knight
511 Union St. #2700 Nashville, TN 37219
Speaker: Brian Katulis
Brian Katulis is a Senior Fellow for US Foreign Policy at the Middle East Institute. He was formerly a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress (CAP), where he built the Center’s Middle East program and also worked on broader issues related to U.S. national security.
He has produced influential studies that have shaped important discussions around regional policy, often providing expert testimony to key congressional committees on his findings. Katulis has also conducted extensive research in countries such as Egypt, Israel, Jordan, and the Palestinian territories. His past experience includes work at the National Security Council and the U.S. Departments of State and Defense.
Education
Master in Public Affairs, Princeton University’s School of Public and International Affairs Bachelor of Arts in history and Arab and Islamic studies, Villanova University Fulbright scholar in Jordan, 1994 – 1995
Regions of Expertise
Egypt, Israel, the Palestinian territories, Jordan
Issues of Expertise
National security, U.S. foreign policy, diplomacy
Moderator: Dr. Breck Walker
Breck Walker pursued a twenty-year career in international business, law, and finance,
before turning to academia. For several years, he taught foreign policy courses at
Sewanee, The University of the South, and worked as a contract historian for the Office
of the Secretary of Defense Historical Office, researching and writing on the early Pentagon
policies in the computer security and cyber areas. Dr. Walker is currently retired.
