Images of President Donald Trump’s recent trip to the Middle East are already part of history. He first traveled to Israel, delivering a speech at the Knesset, and then to Egypt, where he engaged in meetings with Arab and Muslim leaders, marked by handshakes and smiles. During these visits, those present agreed to the American president’s peace plan, which, at least temporarily, ended a two-year conflict and secured the return of living hostages to Israel.
The scenes in both countries highlight both America’s influence and Trump’s unique diplomatic style, characterized by a personal, pragmatic, and sometimes exaggerated approach. His leadership style is distinctly American, but also reminiscent of Roman practices, which is significant beyond historical interest.
The Romans highly valued personal connections, both domestically and internationally. “Friendships,” their term for relationships with foreign leaders who recognized Rome’s authority, were, like their military legions, instruments for building an empire. Trust was essential for these friendships to succeed. Rome’s allies believed in Rome’s support and its commitment to addressing disloyalty. Maintaining this confidence required continuous personal attention.
Trump has dedicated such attention to resolving the conflict between Israel and Hamas. In addition to meeting personally with key Middle Eastern leaders, he has sent two representatives who are either family members or considered “like family,” a gesture that would have resonated with the dynastically-minded Romans.
Trump appointed Steve Witkoff, a long-time associate in business and politics, as Special Emissary to the Middle East. He also relied on his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, to help negotiate the Abraham Accords in 2020, which led to individual normalization agreements between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Morocco.
Neither Witkoff nor Kushner are professional diplomats, but this unconventional choice aligns with Trump’s own background as someone who didn’t spend his life in politics. However, their family connection to the president is an advantage, especially in the Middle East, where personal and familial bonds are highly valued, as they were in ancient Rome. Among the leaders Witkoff and Kushner met with were representatives of Hamas. The trust in, and apprehension of, the American president’s power, which these men were able to convey, played a significant role in finalizing the agreement.
So did the incentives and disincentives that Trump presented to key actors, including Israel, Hamas, Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey. Some of these persuasive tactics are public knowledge, such as the extraordinary American security guarantee given to Qatar, or the threat of severe consequences for Hamas if it failed to honor its commitment to disarm. Other incentives, such as the advanced American military technology desired by Turkey, remain undisclosed.
The Romans excelled at using rewards and punishments to control foreign nations, from granting citizenship to massacring rebels. While they preferred their allies to bear the brunt of the effort, the Romans often had to deploy their legions in the end. Trump takes a different approach. A core principle of his “America First” policy is to leverage allies to undertake the most challenging tasks while keeping Americans out of harm’s way.
The Romans took pride in having established peace throughout their empire, known as the Pax Romana, or “Roman peace.” Critics argued that it was a peace enforced through oppression, with one Roman writer describing an enemy lamenting that “they make a desert and call it peace.” From Britain to Carthage to Jerusalem, Rome’s victims would likely have agreed. However, at their best, the Romans knew how to create a lasting and stable peace.
Trump is attempting to do the same by using American power without deploying American troops. He successfully intervened in the conflict between . He has not yet succeeded in , though he intends to try again. And, most notably, Trump has successfully brought a terrible period of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to an end. He deserves for this achievement, and undoubtedly has the appreciation of people on both sides. However, it will be clear to everyone that the struggle is
The Arab and Muslim nations expected to assist in rebuilding and governing Gaza are unlikely to commit to this task while violence and instability persist. The IDF may be called upon to intervene again, which would likely lead to undesirable outcomes. However, for now, the war-weary people of the Middle East have some respite.
Nations have interests, not friends. As British Foreign Secretary Lord Palmerston stated, his country has no permanent allies or enemies, only permanent interests. Trump, as a dealmaker, surely recognizes that his international friendships are valuable only insofar as they advance America’s goals of a peaceful and prosperous international order.
As the Romans understood, the path to peace is often paved with war. If the truce that Trump has brokered shortens that path and reduces the violence, he will genuinely deserve recognition for his success.
