DONALD Trump is known for mastering the “Art of the deal.” Now on his second term as US President, he has a chance to prove that he is capable of deal-making at the highest level. Putting an end to the wars in Ukraine and Gaza will be his litmus test.
President Trump understands the power of leverage and how to maximize it. As a businessman, this mindset enabled him to beat the competition. As America’s chief executive, he can use the wide array of diplomatic tools as leverage: trade sanctions, financial aid or both.
The President could utilize these instruments of diplomacy to pressure the parties — Russia, Ukraine, Israel, and Hamas — to hit the pause button, sit across the negotiating table, and discuss how to end the wars.
President Trump knows the value of branding and how to sell an idea. Efforts to find a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Ukraine and Gaza could be promoted as a “win-win” for all sides. No one should be on the losing side.
For Russia, the settlement could be framed as a way to lift the west’s crippling sanctions. For Ukraine, peace could bring aid to rebuild the country. And for Gaza, ending the war would pave the way for the territory’s rehabilitation. Israel and Hamas would both emerge as winners.
President Trump thrives on publicity, which feeds into his public persona. He is not one to shy away from a chance to showcase his achievements. He can then host a “Peace Summit” at Mar-a-Lago, with Putin, Zelensky, Netanyahu, and Palestinian leaders all in one room.
To some, this proposal may sound outlandish. But for the President of the most powerful nation on the planet, this could be a bold, groundbreaking move that will define his administration in the years to come.
There are those who say that President Trump lacks diplomatic finesse. However, diplomacy doesn’t always mean bending over or giving way to unreasonable requests. Sometimes, it requires the bluntness and pragmatism of a business person.
In fact, the US President’s bluntness might actually augur well for his administration’s foreign policy strategy for Ukraine and Gaza. His directness would resonate well with leaders like Putin, who respects strength, or Netanyahu, who also has no-nonsense demeanor.
At this point, President Trump could be the proponent of realism in Ukraine. He can convince Zelensky and Putin that there will be no outright win for their countries. Both leaders need to lower their egos and reach a compromise.
For Ukraine, it can get security guarantees from NATO and not necessarily outright membership into the body. Russia, on the other hand, shall keep Crimea under international oversight. This is not a perfect solution but this could end the impasse and later on, lead to a peace deal.
For Gaza, the approach must be primarily anchored on economics. President Trump very well knows that poverty fuels conflict. His administration’s Abraham Accords demonstrated that economic incentives could be the building blocks of peace.
The American President could also propose the creation of an international fund to be used in rebuilding Gaza. But stringent guidelines must be put in place to prevent misuse. At the same time, there must be an assurance that there will no longer be attacks against Israel.
The President also has another ace up his sleeve: his unpredictability. Both his allies and enemies don’t exactly know what he’ll do next. He doesn’t telegraph his moves and likes to throw curveballs. This keeps everyone guessing, which has been to his advantage.
That sense of uncertainty can force the parties concerned into dropping their hardline stance and making concessions. The manner in which he renegotiated trade deals with nations could be the key in pushing all sides of the ongoing conflicts towards finding a middle ground.
But what makes President Trump really stand out as a leader is his confidence to take risks. He’s not afraid to try new approaches or strategies, especially in the peace and security front. It is perhaps this quality that allowed him to win a second term.
The wars in Ukraine and Gaza need fresh, out-of-the-box solutions. Trump, as a dealmaker and not as a politician, should be at the forefront of this effort. If he wants to leave behind a legacy, this is his best chance. Ending these wars would make him the “King of the Deal.”
