Last Updated on July 23, 2025 by ThePublic
Trump’s vow to make the world safer is a mixed bag when you look at the ground reality. His supporters point to bold moves and diplomatic gambits, while critics see chaos and unfulfilled promises. Let’s break it down by conflict and what he’s actually done, leaning on facts and cutting through the noise.
Russia-Ukraine: Russia’s still hammering Ukraine, with recent drone attacks on Kyiv and North Korean troops reportedly involved. Trump pushed for a 30-day ceasefire, but Putin rejected it flat-out. His envoy, Steve Witkoff, has been negotiating, but talks in Istanbul and elsewhere haven’t yielded a deal. Trump’s rhetoric about forcing a quick resolution hasn’t translated into results, and his ambiguity on NATO has some allies worried Putin might test him further. No peace here, and the war’s as hot as ever.
Israel-Iran: Israel’s recent strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities and air defenses have escalated tensions, with Trump’s blessing initially but later restraint. He warned Netanyahu against disrupting nuclear talks with Iran, signaling a shift toward diplomacy over war. A second round of talks with Iran happened in Rome, but Tehran’s wary after Trump scrapped the 2015 nuclear deal in his first term. Iran’s uranium enrichment is now closer to weapons-grade, and no agreement’s in sight. Trump’s “maximum pressure” sanctions are back, but China and Russia are undermining them. He’s avoided a full-blown regional war, but the powder keg’s still lit.
Israel-Gaza: Trump brokered a ceasefire in Gaza pre-inauguration, hailed as “epic,” but it collapsed by March 2025. Israel resumed large-scale strikes, killing hundreds, and Hamas fired rockets at Tel Aviv. Trump’s backing Netanyahu’s offensive while pushing a “Riviera of the Middle East” rebuild plan, which critics call ethnic cleansing by displacing Palestinians. Saudi Arabia and others demand a Palestinian state for normalization with Israel, but Trump’s not leaning on Israel to deliver. His support for Israel’s “right to win” hasn’t ended the fighting, and the conflict’s fueling regional unrest.
Myanmar: The civil war’s raging, with the military junta facing rebel gains. Trump’s done nothing specific here—no diplomatic push or sanctions shift. His focus is elsewhere, and Myanmar’s part of a broader global conflict surge he hasn’t addressed.
Northern Ireland: No active armed conflict, but Brexit-related tensions and sporadic violence between unionists and nationalists persist. Trump’s made no moves on this—his “America First” approach leaves European issues to locals. Any claim he’s worsened it is speculative; it’s just not on his radar.
Other Conflicts: From Sudan to Haiti, global fighting’s at a decades-high toll. Trump’s not engaged directly in these, and his cuts to the State Department budget have gutted diplomatic capacity, leaving Witkoff stretched thin. His deal-making style hasn’t tackled these complex crises.
What He’s Done:
- Diplomacy: Trump’s leaned on personal envoys like Witkoff to chase deals in Ukraine, Gaza, and Iran. Early Gaza ceasefire showed promise, but none have stuck. Talks with Iran are a surprise pivot, but progress is slow.
- Military: He’s greenlit U.S. strikes on Yemen’s Houthis to curb Red Sea attacks, tying it to Iran’s influence. Lifted Biden’s hold on bombs to Israel, fueling Gaza ops. Threatened Iran with war if talks fail, but pulled back from endorsing Israel’s Iran strikes.
- Rhetoric: Pledged to end wars, not start them. His “peacemaker” inaugural speech and campaign focus on diplomacy over regime change set a tone, but results lag. Critics say his erratic threats (e.g., “hell will rain down” on Houthis) destabilize.
- Abraham Accords: Pushed to expand Saudi-Israel normalization, but Saudi’s insistence on Palestinian statehood stalls it. Gulf states’ influence is growing, and Trump’s first post-inauguration trip was to Riyadh, chasing economic and security deals.
Has He Made the World Safer?:
No clear win. The Gaza ceasefire briefly lowered tensions, and Iran talks could avert a nuclear crisis, but both are shaky. Russia’s unchecked in Ukraine, Israel’s Gaza and Iran moves risk wider war, and other conflicts fester. His deal-making hasn’t delivered lasting peace, and his gutting of diplomatic expertise limits options. It seems right now some see him dodging big wars, others call his moves reckless, risking global chaos.
Trump’s banking on high-stakes bets, fast deals, hard sanctions, and selective military flexing. It’s disrupted the status quo, but “safer” is a stretch when wars grind on and new flashpoints loom. He’s got leverage, especially with Gulf states and Israel, but converting that into stability is proving tougher than campaign promises.
Sources Used in this Article:
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/22/world/europe/trump-ukraine-russia-israel-gaza-iran.html)
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/apr/25/ukraine-gaza-iran-witkoff-trump
https://www.mei.edu/publications/trumps-recast-us-power-risks-undercutting-middle-east-stability
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/22/world/europe/trump-ukraine-russia-israel-gaza-iran.html
https://www.mei.edu/publications/trumps-recast-us-power-risks-undercutting-middle-east-stability
https://www.crisisgroup.org/global/10-conflicts-watch-2025
https://foreignpolicy.com/2025/01/01/conflicts-2025-syria-sudan-gaza-ukraine-iran-haiti-mexico-myanmar-korea-china/
https://www.crisisgroup.org/global/10-conflicts-watch-2025)