US President Donald Trump arrived in Israel yesterday (13) to an enthusiastic welcome. The former reality TV icon-turned Politician seemed to enjoy his victory lap, after ‘mediating’ another conflict to a ceasefire. Whatever the rest of the world thinks about the road to the events of yesterday in Israel, and the human suffering which is to reach thus far, many Israelis welcomed the arrival of Trump with flag waving and banners. Trump in his own way, flawed as it may have been had, momentarily brokered a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. The US Republican President received a standing ovation in the Knesset, where he was applauded for his personal intervention to secure the release of the last 20 surviving Israeli hostages. He told cheering Israeli parliamentarians that “the long and painful nightmare is finally over”. However, there was token resistance to Trump’s speech in the Knesset, with one member being escorted out for it.

Trump’s trip to Israel began with a meeting with families of former hostages in the historic city Jerusalem. Terror group Hamas released all 20 of the remaining living captives, before Israel released nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. The trade was part of what is currently a cease-fire, but which Trump hopes will be the first step in a comprehensive peace deal that sorts out the Gaza Strip’s future and disarms Hamas. The basic outline of the agreement which led to yesterday’s outcomes had been on the table for many months. By accepting it, both sides are giving up on key demands. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had vowed to destroy Hamas, yet the group remains the strongest actor in Gaza. Hamas in turn wanted a complete Israeli withdrawal and guarantees that Israel would not resume operations, both of which remain uncertain. From Israel, Trump flew to Egypt where he is expected to discuss regional peace and meet global leaders. Trump arrived in Sharm-el-Sheikh and addressed the media. He was surrounded by US officials including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner. Trump applauded Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah Sisi, for playing a ‘great role’ in the chain of events which lead to the hostage exchange.

It is expected that more than twenty world leaders will join the meetings in Egypt and will weigh how to carry out the next steps under the 20-point blueprint for an end to the war, issued by President Trump. Aid supplies are meant to flow more smoothly into the enclave under Trump’s plan. UN Relief Chief Tom Fletcher had underlined the need to “get shelter and fuel to people who desperately need it and to massively scale up the food and medicine and other supplies going in”. Trump plans to enact his idea for peace with the exchange of hostages. According to that plan, once all hostages are freed, members of Hamas “who commit to peaceful coexistence” and give up arms will be given amnesty. Members of Hamas who wish to leave Gaza will be provided with safe passage to receiving countries. Upon acceptance of this agreement, full aid will be immediately sent into the Gaza Strip through the United Nations and related agencies without interference from Israel or Hamas. Then Trump plans to set up a “Board of Peace” to oversee the development of Gaza.

The world watched as this new era of ‘might makes right’ – diplomacy – eats away at a few decades of multilateralism and ‘rules-based order’ which was supposed to move humanity towards a better future. Many struggle to envisage where this emerging world order will lead to? One thing is for sure, it may lead to a decade of turbulence, disruptions and conflict. It has already kicked off a global arms race. Conflict, or conflict by others means seems closer now than ever. Small coastal nations like Sri Lanka would be prudent to get their act together, build resilience, diversify exports, markets and industries to weather the coming storm. Our front line of defence will be diplomacy, multilateralism and intelligence. For the island to survive in the coming storm, we need to first find our feet, forge a national identity and move to rebuild, quickly.