The United States finds itself at a crossroads in international affairs as President Donald Trump’s administration accelerates diplomatic efforts to resolve conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, and Iran. With negotiations intensifying and military tensions flaring, the world watches closely—and critically—as Trump’s “America First” approach reshapes long-standing US foreign policy.
This week, US and Ukrainian officials will convene in Saudi Arabia for high-level talks aimed at ending Russia’s war in Ukraine—the first such meeting since Trump welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the White House earlier this month. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will lead the US delegation, pushing for a ceasefire after Russia rejected Trump’s 30-day truce proposal. Hours after ceasefire discussions on March 20, the resumption of military operations in Ukrainian positions, a move that underscored the fragility of peace efforts. The stakes rose further on February 25, when the US voted against a UN resolution condemning Russia’s actions, aligning with Moscow and North Korea over European allies. Analysts have called it “the biggest policy split since the Iraq War,” signaling a seismic shift in US posture.
In the Middle East, Israel’s resumption of military attacks in Gaza has reignited a volatile conflict. On March 18, Israeli airstrikes killed over 400 Palestinians, shattering a two-month ceasefire with Hamas and drawing sharp rebukes from Turkiye—“a new cycle of violence”—and Qatar, which warned of regional destabilization.
The Trump administration briefly floated a US takeover of Gaza but has since backtracked, denying plans for troop deployment and pivoting to temporary Palestinian resettlement. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lauded Trump’s vision, saying, “His ideas are remarkable,” though specifics remain elusive. The ceasefire’s collapse has stalled hostage talks, with Hamas accusing Israel of backtracking on prior deals.
Beyond Gaza, Israel’s defense minister unveiled a “new policy” on March 23 for a demilitarized southern Syria, capitalizing on recent operations. Meanwhile, Iran’s regional influence wanes—strained by clashes with Israel and Russia’s focus on Ukraine—offering the US a chance to bolster Lebanon’s government against Hezbollah.
Trump’s team is also racing to secure a nuclear deal with Iran within two months, though Russia’s offer to mediate has sparked US distrust of a Tehran-Moscow axis. Saudi Arabia’s insistence on Palestinian statehood complicates efforts to expand the Abraham Accords, a Trump priority.
Experts warn that Trump’s hurry-up diplomacy could carry profound risks. Our foreign Affairs Policy Experts cautioned that a Ukraine peace deal ceding territory might normalize conquest: To allow Russia to curtail Ukraine’s sovereignty might provide a veneer of stability but could bring war in its wake, pointing to potential ripple effects for China’s ambitions on Taiwan or Israel’s moves in Palestine.
The US’s UN vote has amplified these concerns, deepening transatlantic divides. Aaron David Miller, a veteran Middle East negotiator at the Carnegie Endowment, critiqued Trump’s approach: “Trump’s MO is to always be in a hurry, looking for the transaction, for the temporary, for the now. American foreign policy—Ukraine, Gaza, Iran—they’re conflicts that span generations, not administrations.”
As of March 23, Russia’s post-talks attack on Ukraine and Israel’s Syrian policy shift dominated headlines. Gaza’s casualty toll from the March 18 strikes, verified by Palestinian sources, fueled global outrage. The US-Ukraine-Saudi talks, confirmed by the State Department, loom as a critical test of Trump’s strategy, while Netanyahu’s praise—reported by Israeli state media—underscored US-Israel alignment.
With conflicts spanning continents and Trump’s administration moving at breakneck speed, the coming weeks will reveal whether this bold diplomacy delivers peace—or sows the seeds for greater instability.
