Trump’s 3 Foreign Crises Drift Into Stalemate 16 Months Into His Term
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · May 31
Trump’s 3 Foreign Crises Drift Into Stalemate 16 Months Into His Term
7 articles · Updated · The New York Times · May 31
Three marquee Trump interventions—Iran, Ukraine and Gaza—have all bogged down, undercutting his preference for quick, decisive military or diplomatic wins.
In Iran, an April 7 cease-fire failed to secure the complete reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and any new memorandum would still leave Tehran’s nuclear and missile programs in another supposedly 60-day negotiation.
Ukraine has also stalled: 16 months after Trump took office promising to end the war in 24 hours, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has complained about endless talks and Russia is pushing for a more formal diplomatic process.
Gaza shows the same pattern eight months after Trump’s Israel trip, with Hamas still not disarmed despite his 20-point plan for stabilization and reconstruction.
The impasse suggests adversaries increasingly see Trump as reluctant to restart unpopular conflicts, giving them room to drag out negotiations for months or longer.
With China backing Iran, can US pressure ever succeed in the Persian Gulf?
As its diplomatic corps shrinks, is America's ability to manage global crises permanently weakened?