Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin to visit Israel, Jordan, Egypt
The Pentagon chief's second tour of the Middle East comes as diplomatic efforts to return to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal appear to have run out of gas.
WASHINGTON — US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will visit Israel, Jordan and Egypt next week, as the Biden administration seeks to coordinate with regional leaders as tensions rise once again with Iran.
Austin’s is set to arrive in Jordan on Sunday, then head to Egypt, and conclude the trip in Israel on Thursday. His visit marks his second diplomatic tour of the Middle East as defense secretary, a tenure that has thus far focused on beating back Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine while outmaneuvering China’s expanding influence in the Pacific.
Much of Austin’s trip will be based out of Jordan, a staunch US ally buffeted in recent years by troubling economic headwinds and palace intrigue.
In Israel, the Pentagon chief is expected to emphasize Washington’s commitment to the country’s security in the face of continued threats by Iran, while driving home the dangers of further escalation between Israeli forces and Palestinian militant groups in the West Bank.
