America’s Allies in Middle East See Some Advantages in Potential 2nd Trump Presidency

This week’s Republican convention in Milwaukee has brought the prospect of former President Donald J. Trump’s return to the White House into focus, and leaders in Israel, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, the principal U.S. allies in the Middle East, are calculating what it could mean for their domestic and regional agendas.

There are perceived advantages for all the leaders, many of whom had warm relations with Mr. Trump. Central to those calculations is how a Trump presidency could impact Washington’s approach to the war in Gaza, which has already upended Israeli politics and rattled Egypt and Saudi Arabia.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel angered Mr. Trump by congratulating Mr. Biden after the presidential election in 2020 — a move that Mr. Trump considered disloyal and strained their relationship for years. But the pair had a strong tie during the first Trump presidency and Mr. Trump’s return is expected to benefit Mr. Netanyahu’s right-wing government, particularly if the war in Gaza extends into next year.

Mr. Trump has said that Israel should “do what you have to do” in Gaza and denounced pro-Palestinian protesters on U.S. campuses. He has criticized the Israeli government for posting videos of the destruction they have caused, but only because such videos harm Israel’s image. In addition, Senator J.D. Vance of Ohio, Mr. Trump’s running mate, is strongly pro-Israel.

Mr. Trump is also more closely aligned with Mr. Netanyahu on Iran. He ended an Obama-era agreement that aimed to restrict Iran’s nuclear program, pleasing Mr. Netanyahu, and he backed landmark deals that forged diplomatic ties between Israel and three Arab states. If he wins the presidency, he is also expected to push ahead with Mr. Biden’s efforts to forge a similar arrangement between Israel and Saudi Arabia.

States in the Arabian Peninsula, a region rich in fossil fuels, also have reasons to welcome a second Trump term. Two weeks ago, the Trump Organization signed a deal with a real estate company in Saudi Arabia to build a residential high-rise tower there, extending the family’s close ties with the kingdom.