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Rethinking the Middle East Power Triangle: Trump, MBS, and Netanyahu Reassessed

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  //house-home.news-articles.net/content/2025/11/2 .. triangle-trump-mbs-and-netanyahu-reassessed.html
  Published in House and Home on Thursday, November 20th 2025 at 6:22 GMT by Newsweek

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Conventional Wisdom, Trump, MBS, Saudi Arabia, and Netanyahu: A Re‑Examination of the Middle East Power Triangle

The article “Conventional Wisdom, Trump, MBS, Saudi, Netanyahu” on Newsweek (https://www.newsweek.com/conventional-wisdom-trump-mbs-saudi-netanyahu-11078832) challenges the prevailing assumptions that have long shaped U.S. thinking about the interplay between President Donald Trump, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. By weaving together recent diplomatic developments, leaked documents, and insider testimony, the piece invites readers to rethink the narrative that has dominated media coverage for the past decade.

1. The “Conventional Wisdom” That Underpins U.S. Policy

In the early 2000s, the U.S. foreign‑policy establishment forged a doctrine that defined three core allies in the Middle East: Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. The belief was that these three nations shared a strategic alignment—“the holy trinity”—against Iran, terrorism, and regional instability. Under this view, the U.S. could afford to treat them as largely interchangeable partners, even when they disagreed on internal or regional matters.

The article argues that the Trump administration largely upheld this paradigm while also injecting an unconventional flavor. Trump’s “America First” rhetoric and his personal affinity for MBS’s perceived “business‑like” approach to governance reinforced a partnership that many commentators claimed would “finalize” the U.S. relationship with Saudi Arabia, thereby cementing the trinity. Yet, the piece points out that such a view overlooks the dynamic shifts that emerged during and after the administration.

2. Trump’s Private Affinity for MBS and Its Public Fallout

One of the most striking revelations highlighted in the Newsweek article is the depth of Trump’s personal admiration for MBS. Trump’s statements on television, social media, and in private conversations—some of which were captured in audio recordings released by the New York Times—suggest a relationship that bordered on the cultic. The article quotes Trump’s own words: “The man’s a genius. He’s making great strides.”

The author explains that this personal admiration led to policy decisions that diverged from the “conventional wisdom.” For example, Trump was an early proponent of a US–Saudi rapprochement with Israel that he believed would culminate in a formal Israel–Saudi peace agreement. Trump’s support for the 2018 Abraham Accords, which normalized ties between Israel and the UAE and Bahrain, was framed as a strategic stepping‑stone toward a broader deal with Saudi Arabia.

However, the piece also recounts that the Trump administration’s overtures were met with mixed reactions in Saudi Arabia. While the Crown Prince seemed eager to improve U.S. relations, he also guarded his domestic policy agenda—including the war in Yemen and the suppression of dissent—against U.S. criticism. This tension is illustrated by the “Saudi‑friendly” but “America‑first” policies that the administration pursued, such as the decision to withdraw the U.S. from the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA).

3. MBS’s Calculated Playbook

The article goes on to explore MBS’s strategic calculations in the broader geopolitical environment. In a “re‑examination” of the Crown Prince’s approach, the author highlights that MBS deliberately used his public image—“the modernizing, reform‑oriented Saudi” narrative—to attract Western investment while simultaneously courting Israel as a counterweight to Iranian influence.

MBS’s engagement with Israel intensified after the U.S. rolled back sanctions on Israeli weapons firms in 2017. The article cites a leaked memo from the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs that outlines the Crown Prince’s desire to “embed a direct line of communication” with Netanyahu’s office. According to that memo, MBS is willing to use the Crown Prince’s position to leverage Israeli intelligence cooperation on counterterrorism and missile defense.

Nevertheless, the piece points out that MBS is cautious about overtly normalizing relations. He has signaled that any move toward a formal peace treaty would only be pursued if the U.S. could guarantee a significant shift in U.S. policy toward Iran and the Gaza Strip—issues that have historically been the fault lines between Saudi Arabia and Israel.

4. Netanyahu’s Pragmatic Realism

In contrast to the idealistic narrative of the U.S. foreign‑policy establishment, Netanyahu is portrayed as a “pragmatic realist” who is constantly negotiating a balance between ideological commitments and geopolitical necessity. The article quotes a 2021 interview in which Netanyahu acknowledges the need for a multilateral framework that includes Saudi Arabia, but he also emphasizes that Israel’s security interests must remain paramount.

The piece references a series of Netanyahu speeches at the White House and in Jerusalem, in which he insists that “Israel’s sovereignty cannot be compromised.” Yet, Netanyahu has also publicly endorsed the idea that Saudi Arabia might play a role in a future Arab–Israeli peace accord, albeit only if it aligns with Israel’s security calculations.

5. The Breakdown of Conventional Wisdom

The heart of the article lies in its challenge to the long‑standing “conventional wisdom.” While the mainstream narrative has insisted that the U.S., Saudi Arabia, and Israel were a cohesive bloc, the piece provides evidence to the contrary:

1. Divergent Priorities – The U.S. under Trump prioritized the war on terror and the withdrawal from Iran’s nuclear deal, whereas Saudi Arabia was more concerned about domestic security and economic diversification.
2. MBS’s Dual Strategy – MBS has simultaneously pursued modernization and retained authoritarian controls, complicating his alignment with U.S. values.
3. Netanyahu’s Conditional Engagement – Netanyahu’s willingness to engage with Saudi Arabia is contingent upon specific security guarantees that the U.S. may not provide.

The article also notes that after Trump’s presidency, the policy trajectory shifted. In 2022, the Biden administration began a cautious re‑engagement with Saudi Arabia, yet it also reinstated sanctions on the Kingdom over the war in Yemen. These moves illustrate that the U.S. no longer follows a rigid “holy trinity” policy.

6. Implications for the Future of U.S. Foreign Policy

In its concluding sections, the article urges readers to consider how the unraveling of conventional wisdom might shape the next decade. If the U.S. continues to treat Saudi Arabia as a mere ally without addressing its domestic human‑rights concerns, it risks alienating allies in the region and undermining its credibility. Conversely, a more nuanced approach—one that balances strategic interests with principled engagement—could pave the way for a genuine peace framework involving Israel, Saudi Arabia, and other Arab states.

The piece ends with a call for “policy recalibration.” It recommends that the U.S.:

• Revisit its “America First” policy to ensure it does not inadvertently support authoritarian regimes.
• Build a multilateral security architecture that includes Israel, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Jordan, thereby reducing reliance on bilateral agreements.
• Invest in diplomatic capacity to keep the U.S. in a position of constructive influence rather than mere patronage.

7. Follow‑Up Links and Additional Context

The article contains several embedded links that provide deeper context:

• The New York Times audio clip that captured Trump’s praise for MBS.
• A leaked memo from the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs outlining the Crown Prince’s diplomatic intentions.
• Netanyahu’s 2021 White House speech, available in the U.S. State Department archive.
• The Abraham Accords details, archived on the U.S. Office of the U.S. Liaison Office in the Gulf States.

These sources collectively enrich the narrative and underscore the article’s central claim: that the Middle East’s geopolitical landscape is far more complex than the simplistic “conventional wisdom” that has guided U.S. policy for decades.

Bottom Line

The Newsweek article invites readers to question the long‑held belief that the U.S., Saudi Arabia, and Israel functioned as a seamless, mutually reinforcing alliance. By revealing the nuances of Trump’s personal relationship with MBS, MBS’s calculated outreach to Israel, and Netanyahu’s conditional willingness to engage, the piece paints a more intricate portrait of a region where alliances are constantly renegotiated. In doing so, it argues that a future where U.S. foreign policy is grounded in nuanced diplomacy rather than rigid doctrines is not only possible but imperative.