Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al-Hijri: We call on the guarantor states of the ceasefire agreement to fulfill their pledges to halt this attack and impose direct international protection for the Druze of Syria
Al-Hijri: It is unfortunate and shameful that the other party is not abiding by the ceasefire and that the hostile gangs continue to commit shameful crimes
Spiritual Leadership of the Druze Unitarian community, headed by Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri: We call on the guarantors of the ceasefire in Sweida to shoulder their responsibilities
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: One was killed in the raid carried out by an Israeli drone on a motorcycle in the town of Yohmor al-Shaqif
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: 62 martyrs killed by IOF in Gaza since morning, including 32 aid seekers.
Reuters: More than 20 injured in Los Angeles, including four critically, after a car rammed into a crowd
NNA: A civilian was killed in a drone strike while fixing plumbing on a rooftop in Matal al-Jabal, on the outskirts of al-Khiam
Israeli media: In coordination with US, Israeli authorities approved Syrian regime plan to deploy thousands of internal security forces in Sweida to enforce ceasefire.
Al-Sharaa: We thank tribes for their stance, not all Druze can be judged for actions of a few.
Al-Sharaa: Syria not a testing field for secessionist plans.

Trump’s ‘New Middle East’ vision

  • Batool Subeiti Batool Subeiti
  • Source: Al Mayadeen English
  • 15 Feb 2025 10:49
5 Min Read

Trump’s policies will not succeed, given the elements required to implement these policies are too large and uncontrollable.

Listen
  • x
  • Trump believes he can dictate his orders to these countries and execute the “evacuation project”. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Ali Al-Hadi Shmeis)
    Trump believes he can dictate his orders to these countries and execute the “evacuation project”. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Ali Al-Hadi Shmeis)

"[The Israeli occupation entity] is so tiny and needs fattening up". This was a statement made by Trump during the late days of his election campaign. Netanyahu had announced ‘Plan A’ at the UN, calling it the “New Middle East”, which Netanyahu believed was within reach after successfully targeting Resistance leaders. Trump was prepared to endorse Netanyahu’s territorial expansion under this plan, however ‘Plan A’ failed at the front-line villages in southern Lebanon. 

Trump then moved to ‘Plan B’ for the Middle East, ordering an end to the war in southern Lebanon and Gaza. He dislikes prolonged conflicts and realized the entity was incapable of achieving victory despite its stubbornness. Instead of “fattening up” the entity through ‘Plan A’, Trump shifted to a strategy of emptying Palestinians from the Palestinian territory, in order to manage the Jewish demographic so it is always a majority. He contacted the King of Jordan and the President of Egypt for this purpose.

Trump believes he can dictate his orders to these countries and execute the “evacuation project”. However, relocating them to Jordan can lead to real instability, even potential overthrow. Therefore, all America can do is encourage voluntary immigration. For this reason, they have also sought to create unbearable conditions in Gaza and the West Bank to further this objective. However, the Palestinians have proven steadfast in their land and refuse to leave no matter the hardships.

Trump's new Middle East strategy aims to rescue "Israel" from its current predicament. It includes Saudi Arabia’s official recognition of "Israel" and the establishment of diplomatic relations. However, this would just be the case of relations going from being under to over the table. The Abraham Accords did not stop October 7th from occurring and proved that normalisation does not change the equation. It has become clear no scheme or collaborators will make Palestine disappear.

In his imagination, Trump seeks to restore American unipolarity by control over the economy, SWIFT, hegemony of the dollar, in addition to sanctions. Trump's plan envisions large-scale investments in the Middle East. This includes exploiting “Mediterranean oil and beaches” and turning Gaza into a booming economic hub. Gaza would be like a “new Hong Kong in the Middle East”, with American companies at its core.

Related News

Record advances for Russia’s armed forces in Ukraine while neo-Nazi ideology continues its rise in Kiev

Concentration camps and the road to exile: Gaza as a laboratory of privatized genocide

Furthermore, Trump threatened BRICS nations against launching a new currency for trade, warning them of 100% tariffs. Many BRICS-affiliated nations, including Saudi Arabia and Egypt, are from West Asia. He aims to separate Saudi Arabia as a financial power and Egypt as a consumer market from BRICS' monetary ambitions. Trump also plans to block Chinese investments and the Belt and Road Initiative by ensuring a strong Western presence in the region. 

The US and its companies may potentially enter Syria for reconstruction and investment. Trump considers Syria’s new rulers to be terrorists. Plan A for Syria could likely consist of pushing for a government made up of individuals not labelled as terrorists. This could include bringing them in via the Gulf states rather than Turkiye. Once this transition is complete and a civilian, Gulf-friendly regime is established in Syria, a peace agreement with "Israel" can follow. This government in Syria would likely be a product of Syria undergoing a period of unrest, followed by reconciliation. The country will remain de facto divided until full stabilization is achieved. Trump will unlikely withdraw US forces unless they are under threat. 

If chaos and conflict persist, Plan B for Syria under Trump could involve partitioning the country into four zones: One controlled by Turkiye another by the U.S. via Kurdish forces, a third under the Israeli occupation entity, and a fourth remaining a lawless, chaotic zone.

The US zone will be in the Euphrates region, including Raqqa, al-Hasakah, and Deir Ezzor, with Kurdish control. Turkiye’s zone will be fully controlled by Ankara, covering Aleppo and Hama. The Israeli occupation entity will influence areas it has entered, extending from Golan to Daraa. A coastal Alawite region could emerge, possibly under French or Turkish oversight. 

Regarding Iran, Trump will attempt dialogue under American terms. Negotiations will take a long time and ultimately fail. When there are two differing lines, with Iran wanting to expel American imperialism from the region and America wanting to bring about ‘regime change’ in Iran, there is nothing for both parties to unite on, therefore no conclusion will be reached.

All of Trump's policies in the region are doomed to collapse. He might consider a full regional withdrawal, replacing military presence with maximum sanctions, diplomatic isolation, and pressure on all parties linked to Iran. This will only however strengthen the China-Russia-Iran alliance, significantly weakening US dominance in the region. Trump’s policies will not succeed, given the elements required to implement these policies are too large and uncontrollable. There also remains a regional Axis that strongly rejects these plans in their entirety.

The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect Al Mayadeen’s editorial stance.
  • Donald Trump
  • United States
  • Middle East
Batool Subeiti

Batool Subeiti

Energy Engineer and political analyst based in London, UK.

Most Read

All
Ukraine’s Corporate Carve-Up Collapses?

Ukraine’s Corporate Carve-Up Collapses?

  • Analysis
  • 11 Jul 2025
Donald Trump, the Corporate Aristocracy and the Israelization of the World

Donald Trump, the Corporate Aristocracy and the Israelization of the World

  • Opinion
  • 15 Jul 2025
Zionist infiltration of entertainment industry: The case of United Talent Agency

Zionist infiltration of entertainment industry: The case of United Talent Agency

  • Opinion
  • 11 Jul 2025
Understanding Yemen 2/2: Ansar Allah values

Understanding Yemen 2/2: Ansar Allah values

  • Opinion
  • 7 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
War on Iran

More from this writer

All
In essence, Trump's visit underscores a new regional order: economically driven, strategically calculated, and reflective of shifting power dynamics in West Asia. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)

The fulfillment of Trumps dreams

Striking a balance: Navigating between diplomacy and military power

Striking a balance: Navigating between diplomacy and military power

In contrast to the deep state’s approach—where a weakening "Israel" prompts the search for regional substitutes—Trump’s stance is more transactional.  (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)

A new vision for US global power under Trump

For Sayyed Nasrallah, religion was not a set of rigid doctrines but a way of life—one centred on justice, compassion, and the sanctity of people's interests. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)

Landmarks in Sayyed Nasrallah's personality

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS