Former President Donald Trump recently addressed the ongoing geopolitical tensions involving Iran and Turkey during a media conference, emphasizing his commitment to fostering dialogue and finding solutions. Trump touted the close rapport he had developed with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. In the interview, he suggested that they could bargain for a permanent Turkish military foothold in Syria. He mentioned the U.S.’s renewed direct negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program, despite previous dismissals of U.S. overtures by Tehran.
During this same conference, Trump praised Erdogan as “very smart” and said that he felt good about smoothing things over between Turkey and Israel. Israeli officials are clearly alarmed at Turkey’s expanding military footprint in Syria. They worry that this will hamstring their ability to operate freely. Given the complexity of this highly regionalized landscape, these comments from Trump seem to indicate that he wants to be seen as the go-to arbitrator.
Focus on Business and Trade
Beyond the geopolitical politics and rhetoric though, one of the main themes of Trump’s conference was business, trade deficits, and corporate deals. He reiterated support for Israel as America’s closest ally in the region, stressing Israel’s integral role in economic partnerships moving forward.
“We’re talking directly to Iran, and these are the first discussions that have begun. It’ll go on Saturday. It’s going to be a large meeting, so hopefully something can really occur.” – Donald Trump
Trump’s insistence on prioritizing trade speaks to a bigger theme of using economic ties as the basis for other diplomatic advances. Throughout his administration, Obama was more focused on avoiding conflict, resulting in diplomacy with Iran. In his testimony, he underscored his long term objective of achieving an agreement with Tehran.
Direct Negotiations with Iran
We take a look at how direct negotiations will change the way international relations are conducted with our recap of today’s landmark announcement. This move comes amid rising concerns about Iran’s nuclear ambitions, which Trump warns could lead to severe consequences if left unchecked.
Trump’s Iran policy “If they [Iran] don’t cut a deal, then there will be bombing.” -Donald Trump
Trump’s stern warning underscores just how critical Trump views these ongoing negotiations. He warns that if it comes to no deal there could be a real increase in pressures. He emphasized the need for diplomatic solutions. I think everybody’s on the same page that reaching a deal would be the best outcome,” he said.
At the time, political analyst Marwan Bishara pointed to Trump’s avoidance of a direct war with Iran. This hesitation arrives despite the fact that he’s already deep into trade wars with much of the globe.
Positioning as Mediator
Trump’s comments signal a desire to cast himself as a peace broker between Israel and Turkey. Though there were already high tensions between Netanyahu and Erdogan, he was sure that he could help them have a productive discussion.
Donald Trump likes to say that whatever problem you’re having with Turkey, he can fix it. He urges everyone to stay calm to reach a compromise.
He thinks both countries have much to gain through cooperation, especially given their shared interests in Syria. Warm Trump congratulations to Turkey for their success in the region. He said, “No one has accomplished in 2,000 years what Turkey has accomplished in Syria.”
Even while calling out Israel’s persistent attacks on civilians in Gaza, Trump threw his lot in with Netanyahu’s perspective. Luciano Zaccara highlighted that both leaders share the belief that reducing the population in Gaza would benefit the U.S. and Israel strategically.
