Former CIA Director and U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has warned that if Donald Trump is re-elected president, he may offer Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a "blank check" in the Middle East. Panetta cautioned that such unconditional support could pave the way for an all-out war between Israel and Iran, escalating tensions in an already volatile region.
Speaking about Donald Trump’s potential foreign policy, former CIA Director and U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta stated, "With regards to the Middle East, I think he’s basically going to give Netanyahu a blank check."
Panetta, who made these remarks following Trump’s presidential election win this week, added, “‘Whatever you do, whatever you want to do, whoever you want to go after, you have my blessing.’ I mean, he basically said that [before the election].” Panetta’s comments suggest that Trump’s return to office could lead to even greater support for Israeli actions in the region, which some fear may escalate tensions, particularly with Iran.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has overseen a series of attacks on Iran and its assets, part of an escalating conflict that followed the October 7 attack by Hamas on Israel. Reports indicate that Netanyahu and U.S. President-elect Donald Trump spoke during the election campaign, and the Israeli leader offered his congratulations to Trump on Wednesday, following Trump's victory over Kamala Harris. The growing tensions in the region, combined with strong backing from the U.S., have raised concerns about further escalation, particularly in relations with Iran.
Panetta continued: “And so the real question there is whether Netanyahu decides to continue to try to expand that war, go after Iran, or do things that basically create an even greater concern about whether or not the Middle East is ever going to resolve itself or be in constant conflict.”
In an appearance on the *One Decision* podcast, which he co-hosts with Sir Richard Dearlove, the former head of MI6, Leon Panetta shared his expectations about Donald Trump’s approach to international conflicts. Panetta predicted that Trump would likely support allowing Russia to retain control over territories in Ukraine that it has held since its invasion two years ago. This statement adds to ongoing concerns about Trump’s foreign policy stance, particularly regarding Russia's actions in Ukraine.
Many analysts believe that Donald Trump’s election could spell trouble for Ukraine, which has received significant military aid from the Biden administration. Some experts argue that Trump, with fewer constraints from advisers than during his first term, could pursue a more independent foreign policy—one that may align more closely with Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom Trump has long admired. This raises concerns about the future of U.S. support for Ukraine and the broader implications for international relations.
However, Panetta expressed skepticism that Trump would be allowed to act without restraint, suggesting that he may face limitations in his foreign policy decisions.
“That’s going to take some negotiation,” Panetta said, of Russia-Ukraine. “And I would not put Mr Trump in charge of that because, you know, he sat down with [the North Korean dictator] Kim Jong-un for three meetings and wasn’t able to cut a deal.
“And so what I would do is … select somebody with experience, a secretary of state, secretary of defense, and put him to work to try to really develop what would be a fair deal for Ukraine and allow Russia to sign off on the thing as well.
“I think that would be the way to go. But that’s going to take time. It’s going to take a lot of negotiation. It’s going to take a lot of dealing. But that’s the one issue. I think if I were Trump, I would focus on how to resolve the Ukrainian war.”
At 85 years old, Panetta brings decades of experience to his assessments. He has held numerous influential roles throughout his career, including serving as a congressman from California (1977-1993), White House budget director, and chief of staff to President Bill Clinton (1993-1997). Panetta also served as CIA director (2009-2011) and as U.S. secretary of defense (2011-2013) under President Barack Obama.
With Trump’s return to the presidency, Panetta painted a challenging picture for U.S. foreign policy, suggesting that the landscape could become more complex and unpredictable.
“As I’ve often mentioned in the past, we’re living in a very dangerous world. There are a number of flashpoints … whether it’s Russia and Ukraine, whether it’s China and Taiwan, whether it’s the Middle East, whether it’s Iran, whether it’s North Korea, whether it’s terrorism.”
Panetta also took a pointed dig at Trump, offering a critical remark aimed at the former president.
“Trump basically said during the campaign: ‘Don’t worry about it. I can basically cut a deal and every one of these problems, things are going to be fine.’
“Well, yeah, he could by simply capitulating to tyrants and to adversaries and to autocrats and letting them have their way. But I’m not so sure even his own party, Republicans, are going to be willing to let him simply let tyrants do whatever the hell they want to do.”
(Source: The Guardian)
BD Pratidin English/Mazdud
