Middle Perspective | Potential Reasons Behind Trump's Middle East Strategy: Gaza Holds Gas Reserves Valued in Trillions | Saeed Naqvi
In the heart of the Middle East, a new vision is emerging for the Gaza Strip. US President Donald Trump, known for his bold and ambitious plans, is proposing to develop the seafront of Gaza into a "Riviera of the Middle East".
This vision, reminiscent of Trump's book "The Art of the Deal", published in 1987, comes amidst ongoing tension in the region. The potential gas and oil reserves in the Gaza Strip, estimated to be around 122 trillion cubic feet according to a UNCTAD study, are not currently in focus.
The development project could potentially be a partnership with Miriam Adelson, a Jewish philanthropist who donated $100 million to Trump's campaign. However, the Palestinian Authority and Israel have been the previous and future negotiation partners for the development of the Gaza Coast gas field, with international companies such as British Gas (BG Group, now part of Shell) previously involved. Ongoing talks also involve representatives from Palestinian factions and occasionally international mediators.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that security coordination with the Palestinian Authority and Egypt would be required for the gas field development. The holy scriptures sanction the territory only for Jews, but a two-state solution would give Palestinians exclusive access to the gas.
The Saudi-Iran rapprochement, sponsored by China, is bad news for the West and the Zionist combine. The recent conflicts have sparked an echo chamber resonating with the chant of Western decline and the loss of global dominance. In this context, Trump's plan for Gaza could be seen as a strategic move to assert US influence in the region.
The Saudis, not exempt from the guilt felt by all Arabs after passively watching the brutalities heaped on the Palestinians in Gaza for a full 17 months, are yet to fully endorse Trump's vision. The Saudi foreign ministry has declared that it will not participate in any post-war programme for Gaza that removes the Palestinian population.
The US, which remains an integral part of the Saudi system, will have a trump card when the time of reckoning approaches for MBS (Mohammad bin Salman). The Saudi-Iran rapprochement, while beneficial for both parties, could potentially jeopardise Saudi Arabia's relationship with the US.
The new US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, talks about a multipolar world order, which is a major shift in the US position. This shift, along with Trump's plan for Gaza, could signal a new direction for US foreign policy in the Middle East.
As a senior journalist and commentator based in New Delhi, I will continue to follow this developing story closely and provide updates as they become available. The fate of Gaza, and the Middle East as a whole, hangs in the balance.
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