Meet Donald Trump's new Middle East team, with new faces and old

US President-elect Donald Trump is hitting the ground running when it comes to appointments for key positions in his administration.

This is in contrast to 2016 when it took time to fill some of these same positions. The sense now is that things are different, that Trump’s team was ready for post-election. This will help shape a Trump doctrine for the region and the world in the coming months.

Some of the announcements, like a new ambassador to the UN and Israel, as well as for an incoming national security advisor and special envoy to the Middle East, are all positive developments in terms of shaping a team that will be supportive of Israel, and strong in the face of adversaries, such as Iran.

The incoming team also understands well the current struggles that are reshaping the world order, one of which the Middle East continues to be a center of: the ways that Russia, China, and Iran work against the West – October 7 was part of this attempt.

Hamas is backed by Iran, Russia, and Turkey, which is a US ally and is also hosted by Qatar. The decision by some US allies to hedge their bets on Hamas is concerning; the incoming administration will need to face this issue.

The decision to name key members of the incoming cabinet and other positions that are important globally and regionally might settle some concerns, and lead to a sense that the transition from Joe Biden to Trump may be smooth, though the incoming administration differs on key policy decisions than the previous one.

So, what does this mean for the Middle East?

On Tuesday, Trump named Steven Witkoff to be special envoy to the Middle East, a “real estate investor and philanthropist,” reported Politico. Trump said Witkoff would be a voice for peace in the region.

Also on Tuesday, Trump named former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee as the next US ambassador to Israel, “a great public servant, governor, and leader in faith for many years. He loves Israel and the people of Israel, and likewise, the people of Israel love him,” Trump said, adding that the new ambassador would work toward peace.

Trump also nominated Pete Hegseth to be the next secretary of defense. “Pete has spent his entire life as a warrior for the troops and for the country. Pete is tough, smart, and a true believer in [the] America First [policy]. With Pete at the helm, America’s enemies are on notice – our military will be great again, and America will never back down,” Trump wrote. Hegseth, an author and host on Fox News, served in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Same day appointments

Trump further announced that he would appoint his former director of national intelligence, John Ratcliffe, as the incoming director of the Central Intelligence Agency.

Another key appointment is Mike Waltz as national security advisor, “the first Green Beret to have been elected to Congress, and previously served in the White House and Pentagon. Mike served in the Army Special Forces for 27 years where he was deployed multiple times in combat,” Trump wrote in a post.

On Monday, Trump nominated Elise Stefanik as the next US ambassador to the UN. “Elise is a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, and the House Intelligence Committee and led the charge against antisemitism on college campuses,” Trump wrote.

The intended appointments publicized thus far indicate a strong team that will be tough on Iran and strong on dealing with other US adversaries. Many are also seen as very pro-Israel and deeply supportive of Israel’s struggles against Hamas, Hezbollah, and other enemies.

Stefanik posted on X/Twitter on Tuesday, “It has been 402 days since Hamas terrorists abducted innocent civilians during the barbaric October 7th attack in Israel. There are over 100 still being held hostage in Gaza, including SEVEN Americans. We MUST bring them home now.”

Huckabee wrote on X that “it’s been an incredible day” after he was asked to serve as ambassador. He said that he had been visiting Israel “since 1973 when I was a teenager. It will be a privilege to serve my country and my president in this role.”

The Hudson Institute posted a congratulatory note for Waltz: “Congratulations to Representative Michael Waltz for being named President-elect Trump’s national security advisor! In Congress, Rep. Waltz has tirelessly worked to counter China, Russia, and Iran’s espionage efforts and bolster America’s arsenal of democracy.”

Waltz is also a member of the Kurdish Caucus in Congress, meaning that he is keyed into important issues relating to Kurds in the Middle East. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar recently mentioned the Kurds in the speech he made taking on his new role.

The Kurdistan Region of Iraq, an autonomous region, is looking for US support in the coming years. It is facing threats from Iran and wants to see its financial security and other issues shored up.

The US has forces in Syria working with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to fight ISIS, an ongoing campaign of which SDF is a key partner force. It includes many Kurds, and the region it oversees is precisely where the Kurdish minority in Syria lives. Kurds were also key partners in the war on ISIS.

So, bringing in figures to the incoming administration who understand the importance of partnering with Kurds is important. The Kurdistan region of Iraq, for instance, acts as a strategic region that sits at a crossroads between Iran and Turkey.

The incoming team will contrast with some of those currently serving and those who have served previously in key roles in the region. The current Biden team includes Amos Hochstein, who pushed the maritime deal between Israel and Lebanon in 2022. This deal didn’t bring stability but rather led Hezbollah to think Israel was weak and that the US would pressure Israel to appease Hezbollah.

It will be important to focus on what happens to other key members of the Biden team, such as Brett McGurk, who serves as deputy assistant to Biden and on the National Security Council as coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa.

He previously served in the Obama administration and the first Trump administration as a coordinator of anti-ISIS efforts. He resigned in 2018 over Trump’s decision to withdraw from Syria but returned in a different role when Biden came into office.