Trump's prepared remarks contain a brief reference to Afghanistan, where the U.S. engaged in its longest-ever war. Touting his new strategy unveiled in August, Trump said: "Our warriors in Afghanistan...now have new rules of engagement. Along with their Afghan partners, our military is no longer undermined by artificial timelines, and we no longer tell our enemies our plans."
The "conditions-based" approach was perhaps the biggest change in Trump's Afghanistan policy. But so far, the plan has made limited progress. According to the most recent estimates, the U.S.-backed government in Kabul retains control or exerted influence over about 56 percent of Afghanistan's districts. The country has experienced four major insurgent attacks in the last nine days that have left scores dead.
Iran gets three sentences in Trump's State of the Union address. During the recent anti-government protests across Iran, "I did not stay silent," Trump said. "America stands with the people of Iran in their courageous struggle for freedom."
Trump also noted that he is asking Congress to address the "fundamental flaws in the terrible Iran nuclear deal." Earlier this month, Trump preserved the Iran nuclear deal, but said it was his last time to do so unless it was made tougher. Iran has said it will not renegotiate the agreement.