Jared Kushner, Steve Witkoff and the Profitable Business of Peace
The New York Times • • world
Key Points:
- President Trump initially announced that Jared Kushner and Steven Witkoff would resume peace talks with Iran, sparking optimism in markets, but then abruptly canceled the trip within 24 hours.
- Kushner and Witkoff, both businessmen and Trump's close associates, have taken on unusual roles as special envoys, engaging in high-stakes diplomatic missions despite lacking formal diplomatic backgrounds.
- Their peace initiatives often blend business interests with diplomacy, exemplified by proposals like building a special economic zone in Gaza and seeking profit-sharing from Ukraine's reconstruction.
- The overlap between their private business ventures and public peace efforts, including deals involving Pakistan and cryptocurrency firms linked to their families, raises concerns about conflicts of interest.
- This fusion of corporate governance and peace negotiations reflects a broader trend in Trump's administration, where private interests heavily influence public diplomatic efforts.
