The diplomatic centerpiece of President Donald Trump’s Mideast tour will be a major international summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. Co-hosted with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, this gathering of over 20 heads of state is designed to build a broad and durable coalition to support the fragile peace in Gaza and the wider region.
The summit’s immediate goal is to consolidate the Israel-Hamas ceasefire. Leaders will work to transform the temporary truce into a permanent agreement by tackling the tough issues the initial deal deferred, such as the future governance of Gaza and security arrangements to prevent a resurgence of conflict.
A key item on the agenda will be financing Gaza’s reconstruction. President Trump will use the summit to press wealthy Arab nations to make substantial financial commitments to the rebuilding effort. The aim is to create a regional fund and a coordinated international plan to restore Gaza’s infrastructure and economy, thereby giving the population a stake in maintaining peace.
Beyond Gaza, Trump sees the summit as a crucial vehicle for advancing his broader geopolitical vision. It provides a rare opportunity to bring Israeli and Arab leaders (even if indirectly) into a common dialogue, fostering the cooperation needed to expand the Abraham Accords. The ultimate prize, normalizing relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, will be a key undercurrent in all discussions.
By convening this summit, Trump is employing a strategy of collective diplomacy. The goal is to ensure that the responsibility for maintaining peace is shared across the region, with the United States acting as the key facilitator and security guarantor. The outcomes of this gathering will determine the trajectory of Mideast politics for the foreseeable future.