Latest news with #BureauofNearEasternAffairs
Middle East
08-04-2025
- Politics
- Middle East
OPEN// FM urges restoring calmness, consolidating Gaza ceasefire
CAIRO, April 8 (MENA) - Foreign and Emigration Minister Badr Abdelatty underlined the importance of restoring calmness, consolidating the Gaza ceasefire deal and ensuring the implementation of its three stages. He also highlighted the importance of delivering humanitarian and medical assistance to Gaza and alleviating the suffering of the Palestinians. He stressed Egypt's rejection of forced displacement of the Palestinians. He made the remarks during a meeting on Tuesday with Deputy Special Envoy for the Middle East Morgan Ortagus and Tim Lenderking, a Senior Bureau Official in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs at the US State Department. The meeting took place on Tuesday on the fringe of the Middle East-America Dialogue Summit (MEAD) in Abu Dhabi. The talks tackled the Egyptian-US strategic partnership for over four decades and means of enhancing bilateral cooperation for the best interests of both sides, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Tamim Khallaf said. The two sides also exchanged views on the latest developments in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank in light of the dangerous Israeli escalation in the occupied Palestinian territories. Abdelatty reviewed the Gaza reconstruction plan which was endorsed by the Arab and Islamic counties and backed by the European Union, Japan and other key international players. He referred to Egypt's keenness on hosting the international conference on Gaza reconstruction in tandem with the United Nations and the Palestinian government. He voiced hope to enhance coordination with the US administration to work on realizing the aspired just peace in the Middle East. The foreign minister stressed the importance of finding a political path for reaching a final Palestinian-Israeli settlement in accordance with the international legitimacy to establish an independent Palestinian state along the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem (Al Quds) as its capital. The meeting tackled also the latest developments in the Middle East, especially in Lebanon, Syria, Libya, Sudan and Yemen. The meeting underlined the importance of protecting navigation in the Red Sea. (MENA) M N E/R R N
Arab News
19-02-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Saudi deputy FM meets US official in Riyadh
Saudi Arabia's Deputy Minister for Political Affairs Saud Al-Sati received Timothy Lenderking, senior bureau official at US State Department's Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, and his accompanying delegation, in Riyadh on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia's Deputy Minister for Consular Affairs Ali Al-Yousef received Dutch Ambassador to the Kingdom Hans Peter van der Woude in Riyadh on Wednesday. During the meetings, all sides discussed various topics of common interest, the Foreign Ministry wrote on X.
The National
13-02-2025
- Politics
- The National
Marco Rubio heading to Middle East as Trump pushes Gaza displacement plan
When US Secretary of State Marco Rubio embarks on his first trip to the Middle East this weekend, he will do so without his regional team at the State Department fully assembled and as tension flares over President Donald Trump's plans for Gaza. The trip comes as Mr Trump attempts to build regional support for the US take control of the Gaza Strip and permanently displace more than 2 million Palestinians in the territory to neighbouring countries. Mr Rubio, who will be on his second foreign trip as Secretary of State, is expected to 'promote US interests in advancing regional co-operation, stability and peace' as part of President Trump's broader 'America first' agenda. 'The trip will centre on freeing American and all other hostages from Hamas captivity, advancing to phase two of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza and countering the destabilising activities of the Iranian regime and its proxies,' the State Department said in a statement. But questions over Gaza's future and how serious Mr Trump is about taking control of the enclave are bound to come up. Without a full team in place at the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, Mr Rubio's preparations could be hampered, though the seasoned politician may be unfazed by that. 'If the staff isn't fully co-ordinated and working together, it works against him,' said Aaron David Miller, a former long-time Middle East analyst at the State Department. 'But Marco Rubio, actually, of all the President's appointments, probably has the most foreign policy experience and when it comes to the international scene he'll be fine.' On Wednesday, Mr Trump nominated Joel Rayburn to serve as Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, a position formerly held by Barbara Leaf. Mr Rayburn is a veteran diplomat with years of experience in the region. From 2018 to 2021, he served as US special envoy for Syria. He also served as senior director for Iran, Iraq, Syria and Lebanon on the National Security Council during the beginning of Mr Trump's first term. Tim Lenderking, another veteran diplomat, is currently the highest-ranking official at the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs. Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee is yet to be confirmed as the next US ambassador to Israel, but Mr Trump has still to announce a nominee for envoy to Saudi Arabia. The US ambassador to the UAE, Martina Strong, previously appointed by Joe Biden, is remaining in her post. While the State Department waits for the Senate to confirm Mr Rayburn, Mr Rubio will visit Israel, Saudi Arabia and the UAE at a time when the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas appears at risk of collapsing. It is, however, unclear what Mr Rubio's role will be in the Middle East as other members of the Trump administration take the lead on crucial issues. Steve Witkoff, Special Envoy for the Middle East, has already criss-crossed the region several times and has been widely credited with helping to push the ceasefire and hostage deal between Hamas and Israel over the line, before the new administration had even taken over. 'The White House has been the controlling influence on most issues, certainly on almost all Middle East issues,' Mr Miller said.
LBCI
08-02-2025
- Politics
- LBCI
Nawaf Salam meets Ortagus: Urges pressure on Israel to ensure full withdrawal from Lebanese territories
U.S. deputy special envoy for the Middle East, Morgan Ortagus, met with Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam at his residence in Kraytem ON Saturday morning, in the presence of Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Levant and Syria engagement in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs Natasha Franceschi, U.S. Ambassador Lisa Johnson, and the accompanying delegation. During the meeting, Ortagus reiterated U.S. support for the presidency and the upcoming government in light of Salam's vision focused on financial, judicial, and administrative reforms, expressing hope that the government would be formed soon. For his part, Prime Minister-designate Salam emphasized the need to pressure Israel to ensure its full withdrawal from the occupied Lebanese territories by the set date of February 18, without delay. He also underscored the importance of cooperation with the United States and the international community to help Lebanon recover, rebuild, and achieve stability.
