CAPITAL DEBATE PUTS SPOTLIGHT ON US FOREIGN POLICY

▶ Trump administration is willing to listen, Abu Dhabi Strategic Debate is told, but its approach is ambiguous

The ambiguity of American policy in the Arabian Gulf was discussed by local and US experts at the 4th Abu Dhabi Strategic Debate in the capital yesterday.

They spoke of US president Donald Trump’s approach to key issues in the region such as Iran, the nuclear deal and sanctions imposed on it.

“There is ambiguity and chaos in American foreign policy under Trump’s administration,” said Ed Rogers, a veteran staffer of the Reagan White House and columnist for The Washington Post.

“But there are key elements of the foreign policy’s structure structure [that are clear]: defeating ISIL; restoring relations with regional allies such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Israel; halting Iranian expansion; and achieving a settlement between the Palestinians and Israelis as part of what has come to be known as the deal of the century.”

He said Trump’s administration was sending clear signals that it was open to listening to its allies and wishes to open new channels of communication, highlighting the importance of congress.

“It is an extremely important element of decision-making in foreign policy,” Mr Rogers said.

“It is the most active in implementing sanctions against Iran. So GCC countries should communicate with leaders from the Democratic and Republican parties in the US as democrats currently have the upper hand in congress, which means they play an important role in foreign policy.”

Dr James Lindsay, senior vice president, director of studies and the Maurice R Greenberg chair at the Council on Foreign Relations, agreed.

“Trump administration foreign policy is characterised by ambiguity and incoherence,” he said, using the example of Washington’s handling of the diplomatic crisis between Qatar and the Arab Quartet,” Dr Lindsay said.

“The current tone of the US administration changed from that during the presidency of Barack Obama, but the core of the policies did not undergo a drastic change.

“The Trump administration is facing a particularly hard challenge in dealing with Iran, since Trump did not tear up the nuclear deal as he claimed he would do during his campaign, and he does not want to give up the deal, but he will continue with the policy of implementing more sanctions.”

Despite expectations, relations between the US and the Gulf have been strained, with the region seeing no positive change in US foreign policy towards the Middle East this year.

Two months ago, local policy advisers and a former American ambassador expressed concern in Abu Dhabi over Mr Trump’s lack of ability to take real action and unwillingness to enact real Middle Eastern foreign policy change.

Mr Rogers said GCC countries should seek to convince the US that serving Gulf interests would also serve American interests, should they wish to gain the support they are looking for from Washington, and the “key is examining American interests first”.

Abdulrahman Al Rashed, columnist for Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper, said Iran was the common primary factor in many of the region’s crises.

“It is not possible to bolster security and stability in the countries experiencing ongoing struggles such as Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Yemen, without ending Iranian interference,” he said.

The current tone has changed from that during the presidency of Barack Obama DR JAMES LINDSAY Senior vice president of the Council on Foreign Relations