PNN – The website of the Financial Times newspaper claimed in a report today that fearing the future US government’s unquestionable support for the Zionist regime, the Arab countries hope that Saudi Arabia will curb the policies of the president-elect in the Middle East by exploiting its relations with Donald Trump.
According to the report of Pakistan News Network, this English newspaper wrote: After Trump selected a number of candidates for key cabinet positions from staunch supporters of Israel and opponents of Iran, officials in Arab countries worried that his incoming administration might consider any move by Israel to annex the West Bank, occupy Gaza, or escalate tensions with Tehran.
According to this economic newspaper, Trump promised during the election campaign to bring peace to the Middle East and end the war. But many of his government options are strongly pro-Israel. Among these people, we can mention Mike Huckabee, the candidate for the US embassy in Israel, and Steven Witkoff, his representative in the Middle East.
During Trump’s first term, Saudi Arabia supported his “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran. And after Saudi agents killed Jamal Khashoggi, a critical journalist, in 2018, and the relations of other Western countries with Riyadh turned cold, the American president remained with the crown prince.
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In an interview with the Saudi Arabia news channel last month, Trump said that relations between the United States and Saudi Arabia during his presidency were “excellent” and that he had “a lot of respect for the king and the crown prince.”
According to the Financial Times, the role of Saudi Arabia is important in the possible increase of Abraham treaty member countries and the normalization of relations with Israel. However, Arab officials believe that Trump will succeed only by pressuring Benjamin Netanyahu to give concessions to the Palestinians regarding the establishment of a Palestinian state; something that the Prime Minister of Israel strongly rejects.
An Arab diplomat argued: Trump currently does not need any other actor in the Middle East except Saudi Arabia. Trump likes to have ready-made agreements handed to him to take credit for.
Arab officials also hope that it will be difficult for Trump to marginalize the Palestinians as the level of anger over the destruction of Gaza has put the Palestinian issue back at the top of the regional agenda. The leaders of the Arab countries are worried that the conflict in Gaza will lead to extremism in parts of the population of the Arab countries, especially the youth, who are the main supporters of the Saudi crown prince.
An Arab diplomat said: “Trump must end the war in Gaza, and to do this, he must address it the day after his inauguration.”