Summary
- The U.S. will not attend the upcoming UN conference on the Israel two-state solution.
- State Department deputy spokesperson Tommy Pigott confirmed the decision at a press briefing.
- The conference is scheduled for later this month at the United Nations.
- No further details were provided on the U.S. absence or alternative engagement plans.
Later this month, a United Nations summit on the two-state solution is planned.
In June, the Trump administration dissuaded governments from attending a United Nations conference on the topic.
During a briefing on Monday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt expressed uncertainty about whether US President Donald Trump would have a message for the nations attending the conference.
"I think the president’s message on this conflict in the Middle East, which has been going on for a long time and has become quite brutal - especially in Gaza - is clear: The president doesn’t like to see that," she said. "He wants the killing to end, to negotiate a ceasefire in this region, and he wants to see all of the hostages released from Gaza. That has been a top priority for this president.”
How might the US absence impact the success of future Israel-Palestinian negotiations?
Historically, the U.S. has played a crucial role as the primary mediator in Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations, providing diplomatic support, facilitating talks, and offering security guarantees. Its disengagement reduces a key diplomatic driver needed to break deadlocks and build trust between the parties.
The U.S. still holds substantial political and economic leverage over both Israel and the Palestinians. Without active U.S. involvement, the ability to incentivize compromises and enforce agreements diminishes, while questions persist about the credibility and neutrality of alternative mediators.