Trump Negotiating Peace Carrying a Really Big Stick

President Trump 45 avoided a “boots on the ground” Middle East war for four years. Trump 47 is using negotiations to avoid a Middle East war with Iran, but he is also now holding a really big and very lethal stick that he is prepared to unleash if the Persians try to test his resolve.

President Trump 47 has generated huge domestic policy controversies, but on the foreign affairs front he is “de-risking” by signing a minerals deal with Ukraine to freeze the Russia–Ukraine War two weeks ago, then forcing China to admit they are evaluating a US Trade War settlement last week.

Contrary to speculation that Trump 47 is preparing for some kind of ground operations in Iran and their Houthi allies, total U.S. Middle East combat “boots on the ground” is just 8,300; with 3,800 in Jordan, 2,500 in Iraq, and 2,000 in Syria according to Geopolitical Futures.

Trump 47’s posture in the regions has largely focused on air defense systems, strategic air assets, naval elements, rotational logistics and intelligence infrastructure. Trump has amassed an aircraft carrier with 75 combat aircraft; nuclear submarine with12 vertically launched Tomahawk cruise missiles and 25 torpedo-launched missiles; Aegis Cruiser with a loadout of 131 missiles; and 5 Arleigh Burke destroyers with 480 missiles.

In addition, Trump 47 positioned six B-2 Spirit stealth bombers on the Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia. The still undetectable aircraft can carry a combined loadout of 480 Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAMs).

It is also believed that Trump 47 moved a US Army Patriot missile battalion that typically consists of 1,200+ missile interceptors. Each battalion includes four batteries, and each battery can have up to eight truck-mounted launchers, each holding four missiles.

All of this lethality has been bolstered by platooning an unknown amount of AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System) aircraft and ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) drones to key hubs like Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar and Al Dhafra in the United Arab Emirates.

Middle East ground concentration of U.S. military logistics, cybersecurity and missile defense units are being increased from 35,000 to 50,000.

Jordan’s Muwaffaq Salti Air Base and Azraq Air Base are seeing increased personnel rotations to support new fighter squadrons, plus beefed-up surveillance aircraft and drones.

Trump 47’s quiet, but methodical expansion, is meant to build regional confidence without provoking an arms race or open conflict. But the message is clear, although the U.S. does not want to dominate the region through sheer numbers, Trump 47 retains the capability and political will to defend American interests with speed and precision.