With Donald Trump’s return to the White House, the US’s posture in the Middle East and North Africa is undergoing recalibration, with many unknowns around the corner. On the one hand, the US president’s approach has been characterised by a more pragmatic stance, focused on economic and business interests – well on display during his visit to the Gulf monarchies in May and his outreach to Syria’s transitional Government, opening up to US billions of investments in the country. On the other hand, his efforts to broker key regional deals on sensitive dossiers have collided with an increasingly complex situation on the ground: the negotiations on the Iranian nuclear program failed, leading to the first US strike on Iranian nuclear facilities, while those on the ceasefire in Gaza and the liberation of the hostages remain shrouded in doubt. This session explores Trump’s main drivers in the region, navigating the opportunities of his approach as well as the challenges ahead. What role does Trump envision for the US in the Middle East? What are the broader implications for stability and cooperation prospects in the region and for the US credibility? And how are countries in the region reacting to his approach?