From Riyadh to Washington: Is Trump’s Shadow Diplomacy Undermining Global Security?

Poonam Sharma

When Diplomacy Becomes Dangerous: A Chilling New Chapter in Global Politics

A tragedy unfolded just steps away from the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C.—two Israeli nationals gunned down near a museum in a chilling and targeted attack. What should have been a routine day in the capital turned into a scene of bloodshed and chaos. The timing? Strikingly close to former U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent high-profile visit to Saudi Arabia, where he reconnected with Gulf elites—including at least one man previously associated with extremist networks and once carrying a reward on his head.

Coincidence? Perhaps. But for intelligence analysts and diplomats from Jerusalem to New Delhi, a disturbing pattern is forming—one that cannot be dismissed.

Washington’s Shifting Winds: Radicals in the Corridors of Power

Even before the murders near the Israeli embassy, whispers were growing louder in D.C.’s backrooms. Two individuals with known controversial pasts—linked through ideology or association to militant narratives—have reportedly entered Trump’s advisory orbit. While unofficial, their influence appears to be real and growing, especially as Trump eyes another potential run for the presidency.

Once branded as threats by counterterrorism agencies, these men now walk the halls of think tanks, policy roundtables, and private donor events. Their presence, combined with the new violence in the U.S. capital, raises uncomfortable but urgent questions.

Is America unwittingly becoming a soft host for radical interests? Or worse—knowingly making space for them in pursuit of strategic deals?

The Saudi Visit: Diplomacy or Deal-Making with Dangers?

Trump’s trip to Riyadh, cloaked in symbolism and grand receptions, was pitched as a legacy-building exercise—reviving old friendships, unlocking economic opportunities, and reasserting American influence in the Middle East.

But among the usual roster of royals and ministers was one curious face: a man who, just a decade ago, was believed to be linked to terror networks and was on a watchlist. Now, he’s a “reformed advisor,” courted as a broker of peace and regional stability.

This transformation—from wanted to welcomed—is being quietly echoed in the U.S., where ideological sanitization of formerly flagged individuals is becoming a concerning norm. It’s diplomacy, yes—but one that seems dangerously tone-deaf to the risks it unleashes.

The Israeli Killings: A Deadly Wake-Up Call

The murders of the two Israelis in Washington—near a zone that’s supposed to be among the most secure in the U.S.—is more than a crime. It’s a message.

Preliminary reports suggest the attack was targeted. Eyewitnesses describe a swift, execution-style shooting, not a random act of violence. While investigations continue, Israeli intelligence sources have hinted that this could be part of a broader retaliatory campaign by transnational extremists emboldened by what they see as cracks in the West’s resolve.

The symbolism is stark: if Israeli nationals can be murdered steps away from their embassy in the heart of Washington, D.C., how safe is anyone?

India’s Unease: The Silent Strategic Partner Left Vulnerable

India has watched these developments with rising concern. A longtime target of state-sponsored terror from across its western border, New Delhi has leaned heavily on Washington for strategic support and shared intelligence.

But the recent shifts in tone and association—especially from Trump’s camp—are unsettling for Indian policymakers. The relaxation of vetting, the courtship of Gulf radical apologists, and the willingness to ignore past sins in pursuit of economic or political deals suggest that a new “realpolitik” is taking root in D.C.

One that doesn’t just ignore terrorism—but might, through negligence or ambition, invite it in.Who Really Benefits? Spoiler Alert: It’s Not the Democracies

The list of beneficiaries from this shift is short and damning. It includes authoritarian regimes seeking legitimacy, radical ideologues looking for mainstream platforms, and grey zone operators who thrive in ambiguity.

The victims, however, are numerous:

• The Israeli civilians now dead in a foreign capital.
• The Indian officers combating renewed insurgency propaganda linked to Gulf-based funding.
• The American citizens who now have to wonder whether their government is truly focused on national security—or on political optics.

And perhaps most importantly, it’s the values-based international order that suffers the deepest wounds.The Bigger Picture: A Global Storm Brewing

What we’re witnessing isn’t isolated. It’s the early tremors of a geopolitical quake.

Trump’s diplomacy, whether in office or in exile, still exerts gravitational pull. And when that diplomacy begins to normalize radical elements—whether through Saudi backchannels or Washington appointments—it sends a clear message across the globe:
Extremism, rebranded as strategic leverage, is back on the menu.

Nations like Israel and India, which have stood at the frontline of the global war on terror, now find themselves increasingly isolated—partners in theory, but left alone in practice.

Time to Draw the Line

The bloodshed in Washington is not just a tragic headline—it’s a line in the sand.

For every peace-loving nation—from Jerusalem to New Delhi, from London to Tokyo—the time has come to reevaluate the alliances and actors shaping tomorrow’s security landscape. The past week has shown that terrorism doesn’t need borders. It needs only space—space in policy, in public memory, in diplomacy.

And when world leaders give that space, either through miscalculation or self-interest, the consequences come home.

For the U.S., still reeling from the optics and outcomes of Trump’s foreign forays, the question is urgent:
Will America return to leading the fight against extremism—or unwittingly become its enabler?

The coming months will reveal the answer. But for now, as Israelis mourn their dead in the capital of their closest ally, and as Indians brace for the fallout of a changing world order, the alarm bells ring louder than ever.

And we ignore them at our peril.