Watch Webinar – Trump’s Middle East Trip: What to Expect
Next week, President Trump’s first major international trip of his second term takes him to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. His visits come at a critical time, amid his administration’s ongoing nuclear talks with Iran, America’s military campaign against Tehran’s Houthi proxies in Yemen, continued turmoil in Gaza, Syria, and Lebanon, the uncertain prospects for Saudi-Israel normalization, and the potential for major military and economic deals between Washington and its Gulf partners.
To discuss what to expect from Trump’s upcoming Middle East visit, JINSA hosted a webinar featuring former U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Michael Ratney, Princeton University Professor of Near Eastern Studies Dr. Bernard Haykel, and JINSA Randi & Charles Wax Senior Fellow John Hannah.
JINSA Director of Foreign Policy Jonathan Ruhe moderated the discussion.
Amb. Michael Ratney Ambassador Michael Ratney is the former U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia, and was the U.S. special envoy for Syria from 2015-18. He has previously served as acting deputy assistant secretary for the Levant and Israel and Palestinian Affairs and as the U.S. consul general in Jerusalem. |
Dr. Bernard Haykel Dr. Bernard Haykel is a professor of near eastern studies at Princeton University, where he teaches on energy, history, and politics. He is also a nonresident senior fellow with the Hudson Institute’s Center for Peace and Security in the Middle East. |
John Hannah John Hannah is the Randi & Charles Wax Senior Fellow at JINSA’s Gemunder Center for Defense and Strategy. Hannah served in senior foreign policy positions for both Democratic and Republican administrations, including as former Vice President Dick Cheney’s National Security Advisor from 2005-2009 and as Vice President Cheney’s Deputy National Security Advisor for the Middle East from 2001-2005. |
Jonathan Ruhe Jonathan Ruhe is JINSA Director of Foreign Policy. Prior to joining JINSA, he worked at the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC), where he focused on Middle East and Former Soviet Union security issues. His commentary has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Foreign Policy, The Dispatch, and various international media outlets. |