While Republican internal negotiations on foreign policy are tense, US President Donald Trump unexpectedly received a handwritten note from Senator Marco Rubio - the content suggesting that Mr. Trump consider including the Gaza peace deal as the focus of the upcoming election program.
Mr. Rubio said that the US needs to play a more proactive role in promoting peace in the Middle East - an area heavily devastated by the prolonged war between Israel and Palestine. In a note to Mr. Trump, Mr. Rubio emphasized: "If the US does not lead the peace process, we will lose both our strategic position and our moral reputation in the international arena."
A source from the US Congress said that Mr. Rubio proposed that President Trump announce a "new political roadmap for Gaza", including ensuring security for Israel, rebuilding civil infrastructure in Gaza and establishing an international mechanism to monitor the distribution of humanitarian aid. He believes that this is not only a humanitarian step but also helps the US regain influence in the Middle East.
Mr. Rubio, one of the influential faces in the Senate, has repeatedly called for the US to have a clearer commitment to the two-state solution. He has previously been the leader of a group of lawmakers calling for increased humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza following airstrikes in early 2025.
Meanwhile, Mr. Trump's side remains silent, not making an official comment on the content of the letter. His campaign advisers only revealed that all options are still being considered in the process of building the Republican foreign affairs front.
Analysts in Washington said Mr. Rubio's move showed a division within the Republican Party about how the US should participate in global conflicts. Some conservative lawmakers believe that the Trump administration should focus on domestic interests, while the moderate side wants the US to continue to exercise its international leadership role.
Mr. Rubio's handwritten letter could open a series of fierce debates within the party, especially as the 2026 campaign is approaching and Mr. Trump is trying to reaffirm his influence in US politics.
