Trump has to face up to the mess he has made in the Middle East

The US president travels to meet the region’s leaders facing an uncomfortable reality: he may need them more than they need him

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu with US president Donald Trump in the White House last month. Without Arab help, the US and Israel may remain trapped in a destructive policy cul-de-sac. Picture: Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty

Donald rump is accustomed to getting his own way. That could change this week when he’s confronted by the mess he’s making in the Middle East. As he begins a three-day trip to Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar, the US president is promising great things.

As ever, he’s delusional. The reality is that reckless, incoherent, and neglectful US regional policies are failing across the board. A fundamental course correction is urgently required.