A Second Trump Administration and the Middle East:

The Middle East Council on Global Affairs (ME Council), Korea-Arab Society (KAS), and the Seoul National University Asia Center (SNUAC) successfully co-hosted the Middle East session under the theme of “A Second Trump Administration and the Middle East: Prospects for Peace and the Role of Korea” on the occasion of the 20th Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity.

This session examined the potential foreign policy approach of a second Trump Administration regarding the Middle East and the role of Korea in promoting regional stability. Trump’s first term focused on a transactional approach, emphasizing U.S. interests, strong alliances, and economic leverage. Key policies included the Abraham Accords, the “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran, and partial U.S. military disengagement from conflicts in Syria and Afghanistan. A second term would likely continue these strategies, prioritizing peace agreements, energy security, and counterterrorism while minimizing direct military involvement. The panel also discussed the ongoing challenges in Gaza, and Trump’s stance on Iran. As a key U.S. ally, Korea may play a more proactive role in regional stabilization due to its reliance on Middle Eastern energy imports, economic interests, and its position on the UN Security Council.