May 16, 2025
During his visit to Riyadh this week, President Trump painted a bold picture of a modern Middle East, one defined by innovation, cooperation, and prosperity. He praised regional leaders and emphasized a future where commerce replaces conflict, and where people build together instead of tearing one another down. It is a vision shared by many across the region and in the international community. But to move from aspiration to reality, this vision must be backed by sustained investment in the people and institutions working to make peace possible on the ground.
While the Gulf states have made significant strides in development and regional leadership, their path is shaped by distinct advantages — including vast resources and strong central governance. In contrast, many communities across the region continue to face extraordinary challenges driven by conflict: Gazans face mass starvation, 70 percent of Syrians need humanitarian assistance, Lebanon is grappling with mass displacement and widespread destruction, and Yemenis continue to face severe malnutrition, particularly among children.
In the midst of these overlapping crises, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict remains a flashpoint with far-reaching consequences, exacerbating instability from the Red Sea to the Lebanese border. The cost of managing this instability — through military deployments, emergency assistance, and reactive diplomacy — continues to climb.
These realities underscore the continued importance of U.S. engagement — not through military means alone, but by supporting practical, community-driven solutions to prevent and resolve conflict. Yet even as President Trump calls for “peace and partnership,” his Administration has proposed eliminating the very programs designed to deliver those outcomes.
Grassroots peacebuilding programs, including those funded under the Nita M. Lowey Middle East Partnership for Peace Act (MEPPA), build trust between divided communities, support economic cooperation, and lay the groundwork for long-term stability. These programs foster the relationships that make high-level diplomacy viable and establish the foundation for lasting peace agreements. These efforts may not always make headlines, but they are foundational to any durable peace.
But currently these programs are slated for termination. The proposed elimination of MEPPA and similar people-to-people reconciliation efforts would mean stepping back from one of the most effective avenues the U.S. has for supporting peace in the region.
Equally important are the internal capacities of the U.S. government to engage in conflict resolution. The State Department’s Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations (CSO) and its Negotiations Support Unit (NSU) offer essential expertise in mediation, data-driven conflict analysis, and early warning. These are the very tools needed to anticipate risks, support diplomatic solutions, and work constructively with partners on the ground. As the State Department undergoes reorganization and budgetary review, preserving these specialized capabilities is critical to maintaining a well-rounded, proactive foreign policy.
President Trump stated in Riyadh, “My preference will always be for peace and partnership, whenever those outcomes can be achieved.” This is a deeply resonant message, and the US has an opportunity now to put these words into action by supporting local peacebuilders, sustaining proven diplomatic tools, and investing in long-term solutions.
The road to peace in the Middle East is complex, and success will require collaboration at every level — from high-level diplomacy to grassroots engagement. By maintaining support for community-led initiatives and preserving the expertise within the State Department to navigate conflict, the U.S. can continue to be a constructive partner in building a more peaceful and stable future for the region.
