Overview of Diplomatic Engagements
Former President Donald Trump frequently cited his role in brokering international agreements, often expressing a desire for the Nobel Peace Prize. During his presidency, various agreements were announced, some of which have been maintained, while others have faced challenges or been subject to differing interpretations of their scope and impact.
Noteworthy Agreements and Their Outcomes
- Serbia and Kosovo (2020): An agreement between Serbia and Kosovo was signed in 2020. This accord, supported by NATO and the European Union, has reportedly remained in effect.
- Thailand and Cambodia: An accord, referred to as the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accord, was announced between Thailand and Cambodia in late October. Subsequently, fighting related to a long-standing border dispute recurred approximately a month later and again in the following week.
- Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC): An agreement was reached during the summer and formally signed in Washington earlier this month. Despite the signing ceremony, reports indicated that fighting between the DRC and Rwanda continued during the period of the agreement.
- Egypt and Ethiopia: Former President Trump claimed credit for facilitating a resolution in a dispute between Egypt and Ethiopia. The two nations were involved in a tense dispute concerning a hydroelectric dam on the Nile River.
Perspectives on Deal Structures
Max Boot, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, characterized many of these agreements as ceasefires rather than comprehensive peace agreements. Boot stated that ceasefires carry the risk of conflict resuming at any moment. Ivo Daalder, a former U.S. ambassador to NATO, commented that deep-rooted international problems typically require extensive diplomacy and time, beyond the signing of a single document, to resolve underlying conflicts permanently.
Matthew Kroenig, senior director at the Atlantic Council's Scowcroft Center, suggested that President Trump's approach, which included declaring victory before full resolution, sometimes led to unexpected outcomes and prompted further action from other parties.
Middle East Normalization and Gaza
During his term, former President Trump oversaw the normalization of relations between Israel and several Arab nations, including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Morocco. These agreements involved mutual recognition and the establishment of trade and travel links.
Regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Trump claimed to have ended a long-standing Arab-Israeli conflict. Daalder noted that Trump's administration contributed to securing the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza over a two-year period. However, low-level fighting has persisted, and a long-term resolution for Gaza, or for the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict, has not been achieved.
India-Pakistan Relations
Former President Trump's attempts to mediate tensions between India and Pakistan were reported to have affected U.S.-India relations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India publicly disputed Trump's claims of instrumental involvement in brokering a deal. Shortly after, the U.S. imposed tariffs on various imports from India. Max Boot suggested that the tariffs, while ostensibly related to India's purchase of Russian oil, may have been influenced by a disagreement over Trump's claims regarding the India-Pakistan conflict.
Other International Engagements and Recognition
Conflicts in regions such as Ukraine and Russia remained ongoing during this period.
In relation to the Nobel Peace Prize, the award for this year went to MarÃa Corina Machado, a Venezuelan opposition leader. Separately, former President Trump received the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize from soccer's governing body, an honor that included a gold medal.