The first year of the Trump administration has been characterized by the lack of clear policy guidelines vis-à-vis the Middle East. The great hopes that many countries in the region hung on the change of administration and a new proactive president in the White House have slowly been eclipsed by a sense of confusion, given United States behaviour that shows little consistency and no clear strategic objectives. At the end of President Trump’s first year, there is a need for a US grand strategy for the Middle East.

President Obama, apart from striving for an agreement with Iran, limited his involvement in the Middle East, but was forced to direct new attention to the region due to the Islamic State challenge. In the election campaign, Trump also spoke in favour of limiting United States intervention in various world arenas. However, he too has been forced to confront the spread of Iranian hegemony, continue to fight the Islamic State, and attempt to stabilize Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Yemen, and Libya.

Consequently, it appears that the US administration has no choice but to continue in the role of the “world’s policeman” to protect American interests. In places throughout the world, and particularly in the Middle East, a vacuum is quickly filled by elements working against American interests. Under the previous US administration, the vacuum was exploited by Iran, the Islamic State, Turkey (as a principal supporter of the Muslim Brotherhood), and Russia.

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