Trump and MBS move to break Sudan deadlock

Following this week’s high-profile meeting between Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and U.S. President Donald Trump, Washington has dramatically escalated its diplomatic posture on Sudan. The meeting, held after mounting regional pressure, appears to have triggered a significant shift in U.S. posture toward the conflict.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump warned that “tremendous atrocities are taking place in Sudan”, describing the country as “the most violent place on Earth and, likewise, the single biggest Humanitarian Crisis.” He added that “Arab Leaders from all over the World, in particular the highly respected Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, who has just left the United States, have asked me to use the power and influence of the Presidency to bring an immediate halt to what is taking place in Sudan.” Trump continued: “We will work with Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and other Middle Eastern partners to get these atrocities to end, while at the same time stabilizing Sudan.”

His Arab and African Affairs envoy Massad Boulos, who has been increasingly viewed as lacking the influence required to push the parties toward a diplomatic breakthrough, reaffirmed U.S. commitment to the conflict. “The United States is committed to ending the horrific conflict in Sudan. Under President Trump’s leadership, we are working with our partners to facilitate a humanitarian truce and bring an end to external military support to the parties, which is fueling the violence.” Earlier this month, Secretary Rubio accused the RSF of sabotaging the ceasefire agreements.

The meeting follows reports that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was preparing to directly lobby Trump to pressure the United Arab Emirates (UAE) over its alleged support for the Rapid Support Forces. Middle East Eye reported on 13 November that this intervention came after a call between the crown prince and Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) leader and president of the Sudanese Transitional Sovereign Council General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, who insisted that the war cannot end without U.S. action to curb the UAE’s involvement. The UAE has repeatedly denied supporting the RSF despite mounting evidence.

Sudanese leaders welcomed the crown prince’s outreach. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, publicly thanked both leaders, saying: “Thank you, His Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman, thank you, President Donald Trump.”

Meanwhile, the conflict continues to escalate. The RSF’s recent capture of El Fasher has been followed by reports of unprecedented atrocities. Fighting has also expanded into Kordofan and the Northern State.

The European Union has also intensified pressure, imposing sanctions on RSF deputy leader Abdelrahim Hamdan Dagalo. In a statement, the EU said: “The [EU] condemns in the strongest terms the grave and ongoing atrocities perpetrated by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan, including following the seizure of the city of El Fasher,” adding that “in response to these crimes, the EU Foreign Affairs Council adopted today restrictive measures (travel ban, freezes certain assets and prohibits him from indirect or direct profits or other resources within the EU) against Abdelrahim Hamdan Dagalo, the second in command of the RSF.”

Since the war erupted, allegations of significant UAE support for the RSF have continued to mount. This backing has intensified the conflict and deepened the humanitarian catastrophe. More than 10 million people have been displaced, tens of thousands killed, and widespread human rights abuses — including summary executions and sexual violence — have been documented. The latest U.S. intervention is widely seen as an attempt to increase pressure on the UAE and to push both sides toward a ceasefire.