Trump Targets Syria, Ukraine, Hamas, and Iran Crises all at once/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Donald Trump is leveraging his visit to Saudi Arabia to pursue breakthrough diplomacy across four major global crises: Syria, Israel-Hamas, Ukraine-Russia, and Iran. While seeking $1 trillion in foreign investment, Trump is also pushing ceasefire talks, nuclear deals, and hostage releases. His “America First” approach contrasts sharply with previous U.S. administrations’ foreign policy doctrines.
Trump’s Global Diplomacy Quick Looks
- Trump arrives in Saudi Arabia for $1 trillion investment push
- Announces surprise end to U.S. sanctions on Syria
- Meets Syria’s new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa for first time
- Brokers Israeli-American hostage release with Hamas via Qatar
- Pushes for Israel-Hamas ceasefire before escalation in Gaza
- Sends Rubio, Kellogg, Witkoff to Ukraine peace talks in Istanbul
- Warns Putin of sanctions if he skips negotiations
- Delivers ultimatum to Iran: nuclear deal or “maximum pressure”
- Frames diplomacy as alternative to U.S. military adventurism
- Claims local leadership, not U.S. intervention, modernized Gulf
Deep Look: Trump Juggles Four Global Crises in High-Stakes Mideast Blitz
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA — With Air Force One barely cooled on the tarmac, President Donald Trump launched into a whirlwind of diplomacy aimed at solving four of the world’s most dangerous flashpoints. While the official reason for his Middle East tour is to secure $1 trillion in investment, Trump is also testing whether his personalized, transactional approach can deliver results where past U.S. leaders have failed.
In his keynote speech at the U.S.-Saudi Investment Forum, Trump declared:
“As I have shown repeatedly, I am willing to end past conflicts and forge new partnerships for a better and more stable world.”
Here’s how Trump is attempting to tackle four global crises simultaneously:
1. Syria: Sanctions Lifted, a Hand Extended to al-Sharaa
In a move that stunned onlookers and drew a standing ovation, Trump announced that the U.S. would lift all sanctions on Syria, calling it a “chance at greatness” following the fall of the Assad regime.
Even more surprising, Trump met Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa — once labeled a jihadist with al-Qaeda ties — marking the first U.S.-Syria leader meeting in 25 years.
“I’m just going to say hello,” Trump quipped.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio will meet al-Sharaa’s counterpart in Turkey later this week.
2. Israel-Hamas: Hostage Release, Ceasefire Urgency
While en route to Riyadh, Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff brokered the release of Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander, held by Hamas for 584 days. The move sparked hope for a broader deal.
On Monday, Witkoff and White House hostage envoy Adam Boehler flew to Doha to secure a ceasefire and additional hostage releases.
The stakes are escalating fast: Israel has threatened a full-scale occupation of Gaza if no deal is reached before Trump departs the region.
3. Russia-Ukraine: Pushing Talks, Pressuring Putin
Trump is urging direct talks between Ukraine and Russia — the first in three years — and has floated the idea of personally joining Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky in Istanbul.
While Zelensky confirmed his attendance, Putin has yet to commit.
“Putin would like me to be there… We’ll find out,” Trump said aboard Air Force One.
Trump is dispatching Rubio, Witkoff, and Keith Kellogg to the talks, warning of massive sanctions if Russia stalls the process.
4. Iran: A Final Ultimatum
After four rounds of nuclear talks in Oman, Trump publicly offered Iran an olive branch — but with an expiration date.
“This is not an offer that will last forever. The time is right now for them to choose.”
He emphasized that Iran must never obtain a nuclear weapon, signaling readiness to return to “massive maximum pressure” if Tehran rejects a deal.
Trump also stated,
“I have never believed in having permanent enemies.”
Reality Check: Big Ambitions, Uncertain Outcomes
So far, Trump’s supreme confidence in his dealmaking has yet to deliver firm results.
While the Houthis’ partial ceasefire allowed Trump to wind down a costly U.S. operation in Yemen, critics point out that his efforts in Ukraine, Gaza, and Iran are still in flux.
Still, Trump has made it clear he is redefining American foreign policy.
Big Picture: Dismissing Interventionism, Embracing Authoritarian Order
In his Riyadh address, Trump painted the Gulf’s transformation as a product of local ambition, not U.S.-led nation-building.
“The gleaming marbles of Riyadh and Abu Dhabi were not created by the so-called nation builders, neocons or liberal nonprofits… but by the people of the region themselves,” he said.
For Trump, this diplomatic blitz is more than geopolitics — it’s a vindication of his “America First” worldview, grounded in realism, autonomy, and transactional diplomacy.
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