Blinken headed to Middle East to talk Iran, Russia
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is headed to Middle East to attend an Israeli-Arab summit likely to be focused on Iran and Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Blinken, who left Warsaw for Israel on Saturday, said in a tweet “Looking forward to connecting with old friends and deepening ties as we work to build on our wide-ranging partnerships”.
He is also scheduled to visit Morocco and Algeria on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Blinken will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett on Sunday as well as Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah in the central West Bank.
According to Foreign Minister Yair Lapid's office, Blinken and counterparts from Israel, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco and Egypt will hold a "historic meeting" on Sunday and Monday.
On Friday, Jordan’s King Abdullah II hosted Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, and Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi in the Red Sea port city of Aqaba for a “consultative brotherly meeting dealt with recent international and regional developments”.
Leaders of Egypt, Israel and the United Arab Emirates also met on March 22 in the Egyptian resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh.
Except a mention of the Ukraine crisis and Iran, there is little information about what were discussed in all these meetings before Blinken arrival in the region but it could be part of efforts to present a united regional front on Iran issues.
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