Mike Pompeo and the Rise of Middle East Realism After Gaza
Let’s talk about the shifting sands in the Middle East and how key figures like Mike Pompeo and policies from the Trump administration are reshaping the region—not with lofty promises, but with strategic pragmatism.
The recent developments following the Gaza conflict mark a clear pivot from idealistic foreign policy to a more grounded and realist approach. Under the Biden and Obama administrations, the U.S. foreign policy heavily emphasized democracy promotion, peace through the Oslo Accords, and reengagement with Iran through the JCPOA. That strategy, while well-intentioned, often produced unstable results. It inadvertently enabled the Islamic Republic of Iran to finance a web of terror proxies, including Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis, and Shia militias in Iraq. These nonstate actors thrived, becoming destabilizing forces across the region.
Mike Pompeo, serving as Secretary of State during Trump’s first term, helped define an alternative doctrine—one centered on hard power, sanctions, and economic normalization rather than state-building ideals. Now, in Trump’s second term, this doctrine is being revived and enforced with renewed vigor. The administration has made it clear: Iran must never acquire nuclear weapons. With intensified sanctions and even direct strikes on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, the message is unmistakable.
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What’s fascinating is how this shift isn’t just about confrontation—it’s about containment, deterrence, and managing long-term threats. Pompeo always emphasized strengthening alliances with countries that share common interests, regardless of their internal politics. The idea here is straightforward: the U.S. cannot afford to alienate partners like Saudi Arabia based on moralistic grandstanding, especially when those partners are key to regional stability.
We see the impact of this approach everywhere. Iran's so-called "axis of resistance" is crumbling under pressure. Hezbollah’s influence in Lebanon is dwindling, Hamas is cornered in Gaza, and Syria remains fractured, unable to consolidate power meaningfully. Even Jordan—traditionally stable—has begun cracking down hard on Islamist factions to prevent chaos.
Pompeo’s legacy, in part, is the groundwork he laid for the Abraham Accords, which shifted the focus of peace efforts from ideological alignment to economic collaboration and shared security concerns. That’s what defines today’s Middle East realism: building economic incentives, isolating terror actors, and creating conditions where peace becomes practical—even if it’s not perfect.
In Palestine, the idea of a two-state solution remains stalled. Hamas is politically bankrupt, clinging to violence instead of governance. There are no credible institutions, no forward-thinking leadership. Yet, there is still a population in Gaza and the West Bank with the right to self-governance. The answer may lie in localized governance—starting small, city by city, with economic support from Gulf nations and oversight from transitional authorities.
Here’s the bottom line: there will be no grand peace treaty in the near future. But under this new paradigm—where realism replaces idealism—we might finally see slow but meaningful progress. Mike Pompeo and this administration aren’t chasing utopias; they’re playing the long game, and it might just work.
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