Azerbaijan will open Zangzor Corridor during the Trump era

“Faiq Mahmudov” wrote in an article published on the Azerbaijan News website: The policies of “Donald Trump” in the Middle East during his presidency from 2017 to 2021 were marked by a combination of decisive diplomatic actions, military choices, and a deviation from the conventional approach of the United States in the region.During his first presidential term, Trump made several significant decisions in the Middle East, including choosing Saudi Arabia for his first foreign trip, strengthening Israel’s regional ties through the “Abraham Accords,” and intensifying pressure on Iran.On Tuesday, November 5, Americans went to the polls to elect the next head of state. “Donald Trump,” the Republican candidate, won the majority of votes and was elected as the 47th President of the United States.After Trump’s victory, “Benjamin Netanyahu,” the Prime Minister of Israel, who had a complex relationship with him, was among the first world leaders to congratulate the President-elect of the United States, describing his victory as “the greatest comeback in history.”While the Biden administration is working to mediate a ceasefire in Gaza and facing new conflicts involving Israel, Iran, and Hezbollah, Trump will need to clearly define the United States’ role in these developments.”King Salman” of Saudi Arabia and “Mohammed bin Salman,” the Crown Prince, also congratulated Trump, and the United Arab Emirates emphasized sustainable partnership based on shared ambitions for progress. In contrast, Iran downplayed the U.S. elections, with “Fatemeh Mohajerani,” a government spokesperson in Tehran, stating: “There is no significant difference in U.S. policies, and it does not matter who is in power.”Saudi Arabia and the UAE, which maintained strong ties with Trump during his first term, are likely to continue their alignment with the U.S., albeit with more caution. Gulf Arabs have gradually expanded their diplomatic and economic partnerships, especially with China, becoming members of BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.”Sadraddin Sultan,” head of the Middle East Studies Center in Azerbaijan, noted that foreign policy is one of the core principles of the U.S. government—usually improved upon by presidents rather than changed. He added, “From this perspective, I do not think U.S. policy in the Middle East will change. However, it can be improved. I do not expect escalation to decrease or tensions to disappear. During his presidency from 2016 to 2020, Trump worked to create a joint military alliance between Israel and Arab countries to defend Israel and Arab states. He attempted to form a military bloc called the Arab NATO. Thus, Trump’s Middle Eastern policy will continue to reflect U.S. interests.”It is clear that the Houthis in Yemen are active, with the involvement of Iran, Russia, and China. Therefore, the Houthis operate with Iranian participation and Russian and Chinese support. In the future, the U.S., along with the UK, will work to weaken the Houthis militarily to ensure Israel’s security and international maritime navigation in the region. In this context, activity is expected to intensify, possibly with Israel joining them in the next stage. Since Israel has already weakened Hezbollah and Hamas, the Houthis are likely next. Even if primary negotiations are conducted to address Iran’s interests, this will not align with the interests of the U.S., Israel, and the UK.The political analyst also highlighted Trump’s policy in the South Caucasus, mentioning that Azerbaijan regained its territories during Trump’s last term. He noted that relations with Turkey and Azerbaijan were normal during Trump’s presidency. Although there were tensions between Ankara and Washington over PKK activities and issues of separatism in Syria and Iraq, as well as the territorial integrity of these countries, those tensions were resolved to the extent possible