Tomorrow marks another ambitious step in the Trump administration’s foreign policy as President Trump readies himself for peace talks with Iran and Pakistan. Leading the charge is Vice President Vance, who’s apparently been handed the Herculean task of negotiating with Iran’s new leadership while keeping a keen eye on Pakistan. It’s a good thing the man has a steak in the game while America sits at the edge of its seat. Meanwhile, General Jack Keane, a respected four-star general and Fox News’ senior strategic analyst, offers some valuable perspective, even if his optimism is, let’s say, eh, a bit in lockdown mode.
The general notes that President Trump seems to have some information up his sleeve that’s making him unusually chipper about the talks, drawing attention to the stark contrast between Trump’s dealings and those made during the previous administration. But Keane, leaning heavily on suspicion, cautions that Iran is no novice at the game of political charades. The Iranians, as history tells us, excel at stringing negotiations along. Their tactic is almost divine art – they’ll dangle a bit of compromise, just enough to get some positive headlines, while avoiding the heavy lifting. They’re used to making the world believe in reforms while deftly avoiding the loss of anything meaningful to them.
One wonders, as General Keane does, if it’s possible to really trust any promises that Iran may scribble on the dotted line. Of course, keeping their word has never really been their thing, certainly not with the long list of secretive activities listed at the negotiating table—ballistic missiles, nuclear ambitions, drones, and the questionable pastime of sponsoring proxies. Pulling back the curtain on any real concessions would be akin to seeing pigs fly. The general wisely positions trust as the linchpin of just about any agreement but hints that America would be remiss to go all in on Iranian promises.
Looking beyond the talks, the military situation around the Strait of Hormuz—a strategic shipping route—is another tangled part of this diplomatic mess. The general assures everyone that the U.S. military stands ready to maintain security and protect shipping routes. Hand-wringing over a drone here or a missile there is mere noise; America has a plan. The military is more than capable of creating a protective bubble, ensuring that Iranian saber-rattling remains just that. It’s not without risks, of course, but someone has to gently remind our less strategic adversaries that America knows how to handle a skirmish or two.
Perhaps the most telling part of this saga is the proverbial carrot and stick approach toward China. Given their dependence on Persian Gulf oil, getting them to tap Iran on the shoulder might just be the strategy America’s looking for. It’s almost poetically amusing to think that a simple phone call from the President to China’s leaders could help smooth things over. Who knew a little diplomacy among old frenemies might have such global implications?
As the world turns its gaze toward the talks, President Trump’s confidence might just be that persuasive blend of optimism and business acumen needed to steer this ship. But, of course, it would be naïve to ignore the cold reality: Should the peace overture go sideways, the military might just have to take center stage again. That, according to General Keane, might not be the worst outcome. At least this way, America avoids propping up a regime that clearly could use less help and maybe a bit more accountability. Keep your eyes peeled, folks; the next few days promise to be a real page-turner.
