UM’s Kia Talks “Strategic Importance” of Trump’s Middle East Trip

The University of Montana's Dr. Mehrdad Kia talked about the "strategic importance" of President Trump's historic dealmaking tour in the Middle East. 

Dr. Kia is not only Montana's leading expert on the Middle East, he is one of our nation's finest experts as well. And, he's also one of the most popular professors with the students on the UM campus as well.

He joined us in the middle of the president's Middle East tour, but looking back on the week- his mid tour assessment remains spot on.

Here is how Dr. Kia summed up the President's trip mid-week: 

Dr. Kia: This is truly a moment to remember. This is a historic moment. First of all, the President has achieved a great deal by signing new agreements with Saudi Arabia, and he will be signing new agreements with Qatar and United Arab Emirates. I think the biggest surprise in the trip to Saudi Arabia was also lifting sanctions on Syria, which was celebrated greatly in the entire region, except one country. Remember, that would be the Islamic Republic of Iran, which denounced the lifting of sanctions as as an aggression, which is truly absurd. But I think the lifting of sanctions on Syria was based on an understanding that Syria would moderate its stand and eventually would join the Abraham accord and recognize the existence of a Jewish state called Israel. That would be a dream coming true.

Dr. Kia emphasized the strategic importance of these moves, particularly in isolating Iran and promoting regional stability. He also noted Turkey's shift in policy towards the Kurds. He also talked about how Trump's efforts will help to counter Russia and China's influence in the region, contrary to what happened in the last 4 years of the Biden Administration.

Dr. Kia: You know what set Middle East on fire was releasing $7 billion to the Islamic regime in Iran and allowing them to sell their oil and gas to China so they can, they can arm Hamas and Hezbollah and Houthis. I think the last four years in terms of appeasing the Iranian regime was just a disastrous foreign policy, and it resulted into the October 2023 attacks from Gaza against Israel, which resulted into kidnapping, rape and murder of so many innocent Israelis. So I think that was the shameful point in foreign policy, and I'm very happy to see it abandoned.

 

Here's the full audio of the conversation.