Opportunities for Iraq and Kurdistan Region to play constructive roles.roles.
By Saadula Aqrawi
I believe that the Trump 2025 Gaza peace plan is ambitious, and if it succeeds, it could bring relief to Palestinians in Gaza, help reduce regional tensions, and open opportunities for Iraq and Kurdistan Region to play constructive roles.
However, it carries risk, rejection by Hamas, delays or non-implementation, backlash from actors who feel marginalized and potential destabilization for Iraq if domestic factions respond poorly.
For the Kurdistan Region, there is more to gain than lose if the plan progresses well, through enhanced diplomatic standing, economic spillovers, and improved regional stability. But careful management of local political expectations and security vigilance will be vital.
Yes, in the volatile and deeply fractured politics of the Middle East, peace has often felt like a distant dream. Yet during Donald J. Trump’s presidency, a series of unexpected diplomatic breakthroughs gave rise to a new narrative, one in which longstanding enemies began shaking hands, and decades-old taboos started to crumble. Some have dubbed Trump “The King of Peace” for these efforts, particularly due to the historic normalization agreements between Israel and several Arab states, a development that began reshaping the region and setting the stage for a potential broader peace.
Of course Trump’s efforts must be seen within the broader transformation of the Middle East. The threat posed by Iran’s regional influence, and its nuclear ambitions, drove many Sunni Arab states closer to Israel, a once-unthinkable realignment. Trump’s maximum pressure campaign against Iran, his withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal, and the targeted killing of Qassem Soleimani in 2020, signaled a firm stance that appealed to many Arab capitals.
Additionally, the Trump administration prioritized religious freedom and counterterrorism, and recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, moving the U.S. embassy there, a controversial but symbolic act that fulfilled a long-standing Israeli demand. For supporters, Trump’s Middle East policy achieved what many previous administrations could not, actual treaties, not just process. Critics, however, argue that peace cannot be complete without a just resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian issue and that Trump’s approach sidelined Palestinian voices. In 2020, the Trump administration brokered what became known as the Abraham Accords, a landmark series of agreements between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco. Nevertheless, the Abraham Accords remain one of the most significant diplomatic achievements in recent Middle East history. They laid a foundation that future leaders, including those to come, may build upon.
The Donald Trump administration undeniably altered the trajectory of Middle East diplomacy. By helping Israel normalize relations with its Arab neighbors, Trump may have not only redrawn the region’s diplomatic map but also opened the door, even if just slightly, to a new era of cooperation. The vision of peace between Israelis and Palestinians remains elusive, but the groundwork laid through regional normalization could one day help bring both sides to the table with new possibilities, new partnerships, and perhaps, a new world.