US President Donald Trump’s meeting with Arab states demonstrates that the US and Arab countries continue to have close ties. This meeting also shows that Trump can navigate the challenges that the war in February has presented. Each of these Arab countries has its own policies, and each has been affected by the conflict in different ways.
Trump showcased his personal approach to diplomacy during Monday's meeting. This is central to his doctrine, and he showed how effective he can be when in the same room as other key leaders.
The meeting included leaders from Jordan, Syria, Iraq, Qatar, and Turkey, as well as officials from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Lebanon, Egypt, the UAE, and other countries. Trump said that these countries were his friends, allies, and partners. He called the Middle East a special place, and spoke about peace and prosperity.
Trump also spoke of his close ties with Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whom he called tough, yet fantastic. He also joked that the region was full of high energy, but cautioned that it could have, at times, “too [much] high energy.”
Trump also spoke of a recent meeting between American and Iranian representatives, and said that it had been productive. This suggests the US president wants to show he is working toward peace.
Jordan expresses concern over West Bank violence, Israeli aggression in Syria
Many of these countries are understandably concerned about the conflict with Iran. Iraq, for instance, has seen its fuel exports reduced. Many Gulf countries have been attacked, including Kuwait, Bahrain, and the UAE. Saudi Arabia is facing threats from the Houthis and wants more support from the US against them.
Many of these countries were very critical of Israel in their UN speeches. Jordan’s King Abdullah II was particularly critical, in fact. He warned about violence in the West Bank, and also expressed concern about Israel’s aggression, including in Syria. He is expressing the concerns of other states in the region, who believe that Israel wants to become more dominant in the Middle East.
Israel’s actions in Syria are currently being scrutinized. For example, a recent Israeli attack on a base in northern Syria was seen as a warning to Turkey. Also, some officials in Israel threatened war with Syria.
On Monday, the IDF said: “14 Israeli civilians arrived in the Alonei Habashan area and crossed the border into Syria. IDF soldiers were dispatched to the area and operated to locate them, and returned the civilians to Israeli territory.”
While the IDF condemned the incident, it also called on law enforcement to “bring those involved to justice and to prevent those individuals from repeatedly engaging in this incident, which constitutes a criminal offense.” However, these kinds of incidents are generally not charged.
Many countries can’t understand why Israeli officials are hostile to the new government in Syria. The new government has shared interests with Israel against Iran and Hezbollah. Nonetheless, Israel has viewed the new government with suspicion and has backed the Druze in southern Syria. Jordan, meanwhile, carried out airstrikes to stop drug smuggling, which it believes is being fueled by networks in Suwayda. As such, Jordan is concerned about instability in southern Syria.
At the same time, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and possibly Syria are threatened by the militias in Iraq. The Trump administration wants Iraq’s prime minister to rein in these militias. Trump has worked to cultivate close ties with Syria’s leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, and he has attempted to improve relations with Iraq and Lebanon.
Trump strengthens ties with Gulf countries, pushes for additional arms sales
The Trump administration, thus, is deeply involved with many of these countries. The US is even making arms deals with them. The US is pushing for a possible F-35 sale to Saudi Arabia, and possibly even Turkey.
Israeli officials, who see Turkey as an emerging threat, are concerned about this. The Trump administration does not appear to agree with this assessment. Despite this, Trump’s close ties with Sharaa, Erdogan, the Saudis, the Jordanians, and Egypt can help smooth tensions with Israel.
Trump’s meeting with these countries showcased his clout in the region and his ability to bring them together. Even Syria and Iraq’s leaders met during the meeting.
Trump has made it a point during his two terms to reach out to and meet with Arab leaders. He did so through trips to Saudi Arabia in both 2017 and 2025. He also hosted the king of Jordan during his term in 2017.
All of this matters because Trump’s doctrine employs personal diplomacy to achieve its goals. To that end, he appointed Tom Barrack, the ambassador to Turkey, to serve as an envoy to Syria and Iraq as well.
Barrack wrote on Monday: “Pleased to join President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and First Lady Emine Erdogan, host and Turkish legend Hamdi Ulukaya with his elegant wife, Louise, and the US Chamber of Commerce in New York City last night to celebrate 100 years of enduring partnership between the United States and Turkey.
“For a century, our nations have stood together – strengthening NATO, advancing regional security, expanding trade, and creating opportunity for millions. From the battlefield to the boardroom, we have achieved so much over a century of friendship – with an even brighter future ahead.”