WASHINGTON — The 2025 National Security Strategy treats the Middle East less as a centrepiece of American foreign policy and more as a zone of limited, transactional engagement. The language is spare. The tone is pragmatic. Gone are the sweeping promises of democracy promotion. In their place: energy security, critical minerals, technology partnerships, and a handful of peace deals presented as proof of Trump’s “President of Peace” legacy. The document makes clear that the region is no longer the heart of U.S. strategy. America’s own energy production has reduced dependence on Gulf oil, and the strategy insists that “forever wars” … Continue reading Trump’s National Security Strategy: A Transactional Middle East