Trump Vows Sudan Peace Push After Saudi Talks/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Donald Trump pledged greater U.S. involvement in ending Sudan’s civil war following direct appeals from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The Sudan conflict has killed over 40,000 and displaced millions since 2023. Trump promised coordination with Middle East allies to stabilize the region and halt atrocities.
Trump Sudan Peace Plan Quick Looks
- Trump promises U.S. involvement in Sudan peace efforts after urging by Saudi crown prince.
- The conflict has killed over 40,000 people and displaced 14 million.
- Trump admits Sudan wasn’t previously a focus of his administration.
- Prince Mohammed emphasized the war’s destabilizing impact on Africa and the Middle East.
- Trump intends to work with Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and UAE to resolve the crisis.
- Recent RSF advances have worsened humanitarian conditions, drawing global concern.
- Secretary of State Rubio has called for halting foreign military aid to RSF.
- Sudan war has divided regional powers, escalating tensions across the Red Sea.
Deep Look
Trump Pledges to Lead Sudan Peace Push After Saudi Crown Prince’s Request
President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that he will increase U.S. efforts to help bring an end to Sudan’s ongoing civil war after being personally urged to do so by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The commitment marks a new chapter in U.S. involvement in a brutal conflict that has largely unfolded without significant American intervention since its outbreak in April 2023.
Trump’s remarks came during a high-profile appearance with the crown prince at a U.S.-Saudi business forum in Washington. The president admitted that Sudan’s crisis “wasn’t on my charts” prior to his recent conversation with the Saudi leader, but said he now understands the severity of the situation.
“His majesty would like me to do something very powerful having to do with Sudan,” Trump said, noting that Prince Mohammed had made a passionate appeal during their White House talks. “I just see how important that is to you, and to a lot of your friends in the room.”
The civil war in Sudan, now in its third year, has pitted the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The conflict has left more than 40,000 dead and created what the United Nations has called the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, with over 14 million people displaced. The recent fall of el-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, to RSF forces triggered further international alarm as hundreds were reportedly killed and tens of thousands forced to flee amid reports of atrocities.
Trump’s administration has faced criticism for not acting sooner. However, the president framed this new engagement as a potential legacy-defining mission, calling the pursuit of peace in Sudan “greater than what I’ve already done.” Trump has frequently cited his previous efforts to broker peace deals as part of his pitch for the Nobel Peace Prize and sees resolving the Sudan crisis as a continuation of that legacy.
Trump’s comments follow a statement by Secretary of State Marco Rubio last week calling for an end to the flow of military aid to the RSF. According to U.S. intelligence, several nations have taken sides in the conflict. Egypt, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia support the SAF, while the United Arab Emirates—an American ally—has reportedly been supplying weapons to the RSF. This regional split has added complexity to the international response.
Saudi Arabia has warned the U.S. that if the conflict continues unchecked, it could destabilize the Red Sea corridor, allow extremist groups to flourish, and spread instability across Africa and the Middle East.
Trump acknowledged these risks in a social media post following his public comments, writing that his administration will work with “Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, and other Middle Eastern partners to get these atrocities to end, while at the same time stabilizing Sudan.”
The scale of the crisis is staggering. According to the International Organization for Migration, nearly 90,000 people have fled el-Fasher and surrounding areas, often traveling through dangerous routes with no access to basic needs like food, clean water, or medical care. Humanitarian organizations warn that the situation is deteriorating rapidly, with famine, disease, and further violence threatening millions.
Trump’s renewed focus on Sudan aligns with his broader foreign policy strategy, which leans heavily on high-profile diplomacy and alliance-building in the Middle East. His relationship with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, often criticized for human rights abuses, appears to be driving much of this renewed attention. Wednesday marked the crown prince’s first official visit to Washington in seven years, underscoring the importance of the discussions and their regional implications.
As Trump takes on this new peace initiative, the international community will be watching to see whether the U.S. can apply meaningful diplomatic pressure to halt a conflict that has fractured Sudan and destabilized the region. The president’s willingness to engage signals a shift in U.S. posture, but the path to peace remains complex, fraught with geopolitical rivalries and humanitarian urgency.
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