In the days following its deadly attack on a vessel allegedly transporting Venezuelan drug smugglers through international waters, the administration of US President Donald Trump sent a unified message: The United States will not hesitate to strike so-called narco terrorists. Instead of interdicting [the vessel], on the president's orders, we blew it up, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Wednesday. list of 3 itemsend of list And it'll happen again. Maybe it's happening right now, he said.
This is part of a much bigger Let's go meta here. This is a new doctrine. And I think what you are seeing President Trump do is pivot from the old war from Europe, even from the Middle East, and moving into our own hemisphere. He's saying our neighborhood is the host important thing that we can take care of.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been able to rely on the United States' absolute backing throughout his country's war on Gaza. While the administration of former US President Joe Biden may have occasionally expressed discomfort over the crises it was enabling in Gaza, the Donald Trump administration has yet to exhibit similar qualms, even going so far in February as to suggest that all of Gaza's population be ethnically cleansed.
Israel's next move will depend on the stance of President Trump, who blocked Israeli annexations twice in his first term. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee told Axios the administration doesn't yet have a position. "I don't know how extensive [the planned annexation] is. I'm not sure there is common view inside the Israeli government about where would it be and how much," he said. Some Israeli officials claim the Trump administration won't oppose annexation because they're so angry at the countries planning to recognize Palestine.
As Israel pushes deeper into Gaza City, President Donald Trump met Wednesday to discuss plans for a postwar Gaza with his son-in-law and former Middle East envoy, Jared Kushner, and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. This comes as Israeli business leaders are reportedly involved in developing a postwar Gaza plan that includes the creation of a "Trump Riviera" and a manufacturing zone named after Elon Musk, using financial models developed by the U.S. firm Boston Consulting Group.
Is Donald Trump's diplomatic dealmaking truly putting an end to several wars? Donald Trump insists he has halted six wars since taking office, presenting himself as the world's peacemaker-in-chief. The claim has even fueled talk of a Nobel Prize. But is he truly ending wars or simply shaping peace to suit his politics? Jillian Wolf explains in this week's Fact Check.
Donald Trump has pushed the limits of US presidential power, seeking to reorient foreign policy to America First, characterized by a strategy of military strikes as peace through strength.
