Press Releases: Strengthening the U.S.-Egypt Partnership


Fact Sheet

Office of the Spokesperson

Washington, DC
January 9, 2019


“The deep commercial, security, and people-to-people relationships between our two countries are rooted in mutual interest and respect, as well as our shared commitment to combatting terrorism and fostering the conditions for prosperity.” – Secretary Michael R. Pompeo, July 23, 2018

REINFORCING OUR STRONG RELATIONSHIP

  • Egypt is one of the United States’ longest-standing strategic partners in the Middle East.
  • Egypt plays a vital role in regional security and stability through its counterterrorism efforts, support for the UN-facilitated political process in Libya, efforts to counter the Iranian regime’s malicious activities, and the maintenance of the Egypt-Israel Treaty of Peace, which will see its 40th anniversary this March.
  • The U.S. and Egypt share many security interests and enjoy a strong security partnership, which includes cooperation on overflight requests and Suez Canal transit, and an unwavering commitment to the defeat of ISIS. Egypt also works to counter the flow of foreign fighters, material, and financial support to terrorists.
  • President Sisi has been a steadfast partner in the anti-terror fight, and a courageous voice in denouncing the radical Islamist ideology that fuels it.

ENCOURAGING PROGRESS ON HUMAN RIGHTS

  • The United States seeks broadened and deepened cooperation with Egypt, including on issues of human rights and civil society. We believe nation-states progress when all citizens enjoy basic freedoms.
  • As we seek a stronger partnership, we encourage President Sisi to unleash the creative energies of the Egyptian people, unfetter the economy, and promote a free and open exchange of ideas.
  • The United States welcomes the acquittal of the employees of U.S. NGOs who were wrongly convicted of improperly operating in Egypt. We strongly support President Sisi’s initiative to amend Egyptian law to prevent future miscarriages of justice.
  • The United States applauds President Sisi’s efforts to promote religious freedom, which stand as an example for all leaders and peoples of the Middle East. The Secretary is eager to discuss how the United States can help support President al-Sisi’s efforts to reform religious discourse and promote interfaith tolerance, as evidenced by the recent opening of the new Coptic Cathedral and the Al-Fattah al-Alim Mosque.

PROMOTING JOINT ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH A STABLE, PROSPEROUS EGYPTIAN ECONOMY

  • Egypt has one of the most diversified economies in the Middle East.
  • Under President Sisi’s leadership, Egypt is undertaking many important initiatives, including on the economic and energy fronts. The United States encourages a greater role for the private sector in the Egyptian economy.
  • Total bilateral trade in goods between the United States and Egypt was $5.0 billion in 2016. Egypt and the United States signed a Bilateral Investment Treaty in 1982 to promote and facilitate investment between our countries.
  • America’s Trade and Investment Framework Agreement with Egypt helps support freer trade and increased investment flows, helping to advance both countries’ economic interests.
  • With U.S. support, the IMF’s $12 billion Extended Fund Facility program has supported Egypt’s homegrown economic reforms and prospects for strong growth and employment generation.
  • OPIC’s recent provision of $430 million in political risk insurance for oil and gas projects supports Egyptian goals of improved energy self-sufficiency and job creation, and will help create a better integrated regional energy market.

U.S. ASSISTANCE TO EGYPT ADVANCES SHARED MILITARY AND ECONOMIC INTERESTS

  • U.S. assistance to Egypt has helped bolster regional stability.
  • Since 1980, the United States has provided Egypt with more than $40 billion in military and $30 billion in economic assistance to advance shared interests between the U.S., Egypt and the region.
  • This military assistance supports Egypt’s maritime and border security, as well as its counterterror fight.
  • Economic assistance has brought improved education, clean water, better health, economic growth, antiquities and heritage preservation, and numerous other benefits to the Egyptian people.






Press Releases: Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale Travel to Romania, Germany, and Lebanon


Media Note

Office of the Spokesperson

Washington, DC
January 8, 2019


Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale will travel to Romania, Germany, and Lebanon January 9-15.

On January 9, Under Secretary Hale will arrive in Cluj, Romania where he will meet with EU political directors. While in Romania, the Under Secretary will also meet with senior Romanian officials in Bucharest to discuss ways to deepen transatlantic cooperation, balance U.S.-EU trade, and safeguard European energy security during Romania’s presidency of the Council of the European Union.

On January 11 in Berlin, Germany, Under Secretary Hale will reaffirm the importance of the U.S.-German relationship with senior German officials and discuss a range of issues including Russia’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine, energy security, Iran’s malign influence throughout Europe and the Middle East, and the need to promote peace and stability in the Western Balkans.

From January 13-14 in Beirut, Lebanon, Under Secretary Hale will underscore strong U.S. support for the Lebanese state and legitimate security institutions, and reiterate the need for all Lebanese actors to uphold Lebanon’s policy of disassociation from regional conflicts and avoid escalating tensions along the Blue Line boundary with Israel.






Press Releases: Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad Travel


Media Note

Office of the Spokesperson

Washington, DC
January 8, 2019


Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad will lead an interagency delegation to India, China, Afghanistan, and Pakistan from January 8 – 21. He will meet with senior government officials in each country to facilitate an intra-Afghan political settlement. The United States supports the desire of the Afghan people and the international community for a political settlement that ends the 40-year conflict and ensures Afghanistan never again serves as a platform for international terrorism. Special Representative Khalilzad will meet with Afghan government officials and other interested parties to support and facilitate an inclusive peace process in Afghanistan, empowering the Afghan people to chart a shared course for their nation’s future.

Special Representative Khalilzad continues to coordinate his efforts with President Ghani, Chief Executive Abdullah, and other Afghan stakeholders to ensure an intra-Afghan peace process. The U.S. goal is to promote dialogue among Afghans about how to end the conflict, and to encourage the parties to come together at the negotiating table to reach a political settlement where every Afghan citizen enjoys equal rights and responsibilities under the rule of law. During his last trip in December, Special Representative Khalilzad reiterated that the only solution to the conflict is for all parties to sit together and reach an agreement on the political future of Afghanistan with mutual respect and acceptance.






Press Releases: Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo And Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi At a Press Availability


Remarks

Michael R. Pompeo

Secretary of State

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Amman, Jordan
January 8, 2019


FOREIGN MINISTER SAFADI: (In Arabic.) It is a tremendous pleasure – (in Arabic) – it’s a tremendous pleasure to welcome my dear friend, the Secretary, here in Jordan. If I may, I’ll speak in Arabic, and there is going to be translation.

(In Arabic.)

(Via interpreter) Welcome, Mike, to Jordan, which comes at a very important time, your visit, not to mention a deep conversation on important pivotal regional aspects to achieve prosperity in the region. You have already conducted fruitful conversations on informing – enforcing our mutual relationship on all aspects – security, defense, et cetera. Not to mention we’re adamant to reinforce this cooperation with the USA, which is an ally and a friend. We appreciate their support, not to mention or particularly the five-year program and the first to be endorsed by the Trump administration that participated to a great extent in helping us to face our economic (inaudible) support.

There is a huge expanse, or we are going to focus on the Palestinian aspects, not to mention attaining the comprehensive peace, and freezing the process is a very grievance. We have to have horizons of cooperation, meaning the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan’s going to go on its cooperation with international cooperation and the USA to achieve a comprehensive resolution with two states, independent Palestinian states, as per the resolution with the Eastern Jerusalem as a capital and to live in peace vis-a-vis the Israeli country and in peace and understanding.

I have conducted also political relationships in the Syrian crisis, not to mention we have a thorough conversation on future coordination in light of the U.S. decision to withdraw U.S. forces from Syria bilaterally and through the small group. We will continue to consult on how to achieve progress towards a political solution on the basis of UNC – United Nations Security Council Resolution 2254, that preserves territorial integrity and sovereignty of Syria, that Syria accepts and that restores to Syria its security, stability that leads to the departure of all the foreign forces from Syria and allows for the return of the refugees. In light of the U.S. decision to withdraw troops from Syria, we discussed the area of Tanf, and with a view of ensuring arrangement that that will ensure security of the border and deal with the Rukban* encampments, which we believe must be de-established.

Trilateral Jordanian-U.S.-Russian agreements is necessary to achieve these objectives. The enduring defeat of Daesh in Syria is a key common objective. The U.S.-led coalition has made great progress towards defeating the evil. Jordan and the U.S. have fought side-by-side against terrorism, not to mention we’ve strengthened this partnership. His Majesty King Abdullah II had repeatedly emphasized the need for a holistic approach against terrorists and their ideology of hate, which is outside our common humanity and has nothing to do with our Islamic faith and its values of peace and respect for the other. This is a strategy to which we remain committed.

Mr. Secretary, we look forward to continuing to work together as solid allies and partners in pursuit of a Middle East free from crises and full of opportunities where peace and cooperation prevail and where regional relations are based on non-interference in the international affairs of others, and are in conformity with international law. Once again, I welcome you to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Welcome to you, and the floor is yours, sir.

SECRETARY POMPEO: Thank you, Foreign Minister. Thank you, Foreign Minister Safadi. It’s an honor to meet with you today. I’m looking forward to meeting with His Majesty King Abdullah in just a little bit. I’m very pleased to be back here in Jordan, especially as our countries celebrate our 70th anniversary this year of diplomatic relations. I was here – I was here in this room on my very first trip as Secretary of State. I came here before I went to my office in Washington.

FOREIGN MINISTER SAFADI: That’s true.

SECRETARY POMPEO: Indeed. It’s an indication, too, as my first stop on a multi-country trip, of the importance of the relationship between our two countries. Jordan is one of the United States’ enduring strategic partners in the region. It’s one of the many reasons we’re proud to help support you through the five-year foreign assistance MOU, of which you spoke. It’s worth over $6 billion, and it will be an important part of strengthening our relationship for the years ahead. Your nation plays a critical role in regional security and stability, including through its efforts to peacefully resolve the Syrian conflict, fight the spread of radical Islamic terrorism, and countering the Iranian regime’s malign activities in the region and the world.

We had a good conversation today. I reaffirmed our commitment under President Trump to working with King Abdullah’s government on many of our shared priorities. The United States remains firmly committed to Jordan’s domestic stability and security, and we will undertake that work in a true spirit of partnership. Just last year, our nations unveiled a new counterterrorism training center less than 50 miles south of where we stand even as I speak. The State Department, too, was proud to fund and construct that facility through our Antiterrorism Assistance Program. It is sharpening our terror-fighting tools and helping Jordan build its already strong capacity to fight terrorism.

We also look forward to working continually to counter Tehran’s malign influence in the region. Jordan made a powerful statement by recalling its ambassador to Tehran last year in protest of the Iranian regime’s flagrant transgressions of security and sovereignty. I also want to thank the Government of Jordan for its helping in – help to combat Iran’s attempt to evade sanctions.

And finally, I also expressed today my deep gratitude for King Abdullah’s leadership. He has continued to establish Jordan as a durable partner and leader in the region. We’re pleased to see your prime minister recently visit Iraq, as well as Iraqi President Salih’s visit to Jordan in November. We welcome this kind of engagement between nations of the region and we hope to see it replicated elsewhere.

His majesty the king is also undertaking important domestic initiatives, including economic reforms and protection of religious rights. And we know Jordan is also hosting over 650,000 thousand Syrian refugees, and we thank you and your people for their generosity.

On behalf of President Trump, we look forward to maintaining our joint efforts here in the Middle East, and I want to thank you again for hosting me here today. It’s great to be back.

FOREIGN MINISTER SAFADI: Thank you, Mike. It’s a pleasure to have you. We have a very short time, as the Secretary and I are heading for a meeting with his majesty, so we’ll take two questions. The first question is to Amar Rajah from Jordan TV. Amar.

QUESTION: (Via interpreter) Amar Rajah from the Jordan Television. You spoke about the importance of deriving at a political solution to the Syrian crisis. What are the necessary steps to achieve that?

FOREIGN MINISTER SAFADI: (Via interpreter) As I said, to resolve the Syrian crisis is a strategic goal on which we both agree. Undoubtedly, we need a political solution, which calls for working jointly. We – I spoke about an international role, not to mention coordination. We are also coordinating with the Russia and the international community. Undoubtedly, there has to be an Arab role to participate in the solution deriving (inaudible) of the area within an Arab matrix.

As for Rukban, we discussed it at length with His Excellency the Secretary, not to mention the importance of ensuring the security of those areas, Tanf and Rukban, not to mention the return of their citizens in order to ensure appropriate administration at the border. We are (inaudible) with our allies, the U.S., not to mention coordinating with Russia, deriving at tri-parted discussions (inaudible).

Next question, LA Times.

QUESTION: Yes, hi, thank you. You both have spoken here about Syria, and so I’d like to ask a little bit about how we see that crisis, that situation continuing in the weeks and months to come. Minister – Secretary Pompeo, how do you intend – think you can – or intend to maintain the anti-Iran coalition with your allies here in the region, even as these same allies are welcoming Syria back into the fold, back into the Arab League and such? And at the same time, you are receiving pretty significant pushback from Turkey, which is another key player in this.

And Mr. – Minister Safadi, you spoke a little bit about the role of Jordan that you see in here, as the Americans leave. How do you see that? Are you worried about their departure? Is it premature? Do you see Jordanian troops having a role in this?

And then separately, you spoke about the Palestinian peace process. You mentioned the – East Jerusalem as a capital and a two-state solution, neither of which this administration has very wholeheartedly embraced. So now the – all eyes turn to the Golan Heights, where Bibi Netanyahu is asking for U.S. recognition of their sovereignty over that. What do you think should happen with the Golan Heights? Thanks.

SECRETARY POMPEO: I’m going to try to take the first question first if that’s okay. The counter-Iran revolution is – our coalition is as effective today as it was yesterday, and I’m very hopeful it will continue to be effective and even more effective tomorrow. This is not just about a particular tactic that we take amongst the coalition. This is about a combined understanding that the most significant threat to the region is Daesh and the Islamist revolution, and their revolutionary efforts in the region. There is – I won’t speak for Foreign Minister Safadi, but there is enormous agreement on the risk that that poses to Jordan and to other countries in the neighborhood, and that battle continues.

Our – the President’s decision to withdraw folks from Syria in no way impacts our capacity to deliver on that, and you’ll see in the coming days and weeks, we are – are we doubling not only our diplomatic but our commercial efforts to put real pressure on Iran to achieve what it is we set out for them back in May. And these are simple asks we ask of the Islamic Republic of Iran, to behave like a normal nation, and the coalition is just as committed to it today as it was yesterday.

FOREIGN MINISTER SAFADI: Thank you, Secretary.

SECRETARY POMPEO: Go ahead.

FOREIGN MINISTER SAFADI: You’re done?

SECRETARY POMPEO: Yeah, go ahead.

FOREIGN MINISTER SAFADI: Let me just say something on Iran. We all have problems with Iran’s expansionist policies in the region. We all want to make sure that whatever threat there is mitigated. All Arab counties, and I think the United States too, would want healthy relations based on the principle of nonintervention in the internal affairs of the other, and respecting the sovereignty of other countries. If that is achieved, if everybody abides by international norms of behavior, then there’ll be no problem. So for as long as there are policies that are counter to these principles, then we will continue to have issues with their policy.

On the withdrawal, I just have to say that the United States and Jordan have always been strong allies. We’ve always coordinated and we trust that we’ll continue to coordinate, and our security is something that has always been taken into account by our allies in Washington, and we trust that we’ll be – we’ll continue to have this kind of relationship.

This is a solid partnership, particularly when it comes to defense and security against Daesh, against ISIS. We (inaudible) side by side, we’ll continue to do that, and we’re fully confident that our allies and us will be able to address whatever new developments in a way that is mutually beneficial for both of us.

On the peace process, look, I mean, Jordan has been consistent all through. His majesty has been more than clear that the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is the key conflict in the region, and its resolution is the only path to comprehensive peace, which we all want. All Arab states, Jordan included, have said we wanted comprehensive and lasting peace with Israel, but we also said in order for that to happen, the legitimate rights of the Palestinians, but particularly their right to statehood and freedom on June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as capital, is a must. So we’re going to continue to do that, and again, as friends, as allies, we might have agreements and disagreements, but you can count on us always having frank and open and thorough discussion too as to see how we can overcome differences and move collectively in an effective manner towards our common goal of global peace and stability.

The Golan Heights is in occupied Syrian territory. International law is clear on that. It has to be treated as such, and therefore our position is that Israel needs to withdraw from that territory, again, within the framework of a peace agreement that will deliver the comprehensive peace that we want. The Arab Peace Initiative has been on the table since 2002 as an offer, as an invitation for Israel to come and sit on the table with a view to reaching a comprehensive peace that will also address Israel’s rights to security and acceptance and normal ties with the Arab world. This is our position and we continue to stand by it because we believe it’s the only way to achieve the comprehensive peace that we all want.

I want to thank you so much. We’ve got to run. We have a meeting with his majesty now, so thank you all and (ends in progress).






Press Releases: Remarks to Press


Remarks

Michael R. Pompeo

Secretary of State

En Route to Shannon, Ireland
January 7, 2019


SECRETARY POMPEO: We’ve got a good trip, a lengthy trip, to the Middle East. I’ve been to the Middle East probably as much as any Secretary of State in the beginning of their tour. I went there in my previous role quite a bit as well. They’re an important set of relationships, especially for this administration as we continue to build out the coalition that’s pushing back against the world’s largest state sponsor of terror, Iran.

So that’ll be a significant piece of what I do, but it’s also the case that I haven’t had a chance, although I talk to them on the phone with some frequency, to see them for a number of weeks and to come back and make sure everybody’s clear about the fact that the United States is still committed to all the missions that we signed up for with them over the past two years. The counter-ISIS campaign continues, the effort – the counter-Iran campaign absolutely continues, and our commitment to support Middle East stability is still full throttle.

QUESTION: And so the Syria withdrawal does not impact at all your commitment to Middle East?

SECRETARY POMPEO: Nope.

QUESTION: Will you have sort of a – give sort of a timeline for what the – it looks like now and how many troops this is?

SECRETARY POMPEO: We don’t talk about timelines.

QUESTION: Do you talk with your allies?

SECRETARY POMPEO: We don’t talk about timelines. The President’s made a commitment. We’re going to withdraw our uniformed personnel, uniformed guys, 2,000 roughly folks on the ground. We’re going to withdraw them from Syria.

QUESTION: But will you talk about timelines with your allies? Because they have a lot of questions about your strategy now that you’re withdrawing.

SECRETARY POMPEO: I’ve actually spoken to them all. Tell me what your source is for the fact that they have lots of questions.

QUESTION: Well, I am French. The French concerns.

SECRETARY POMPEO: I’ve spoken to the French. I’ve spoken to the French.

QUESTION: (Inaudible.)

SECRETARY POMPEO: They know precisely what our intentions are and what we’re doing.

QUESTION: (Inaudible.)

SECRETARY POMPEO: I mean, look, we’ve had lots of conversations with them. We’ve briefed them fully. We’ll continue to talk to them. We’ll continue to stay in contact with them. We’ll – if it’s not going perfectly, we’ll work to make it better. We’ll make sure we address concerns that they have. But everyone’s got – everyone’s been communicated with, all the countries I’m going to visit. We’ve communicated with all of our European allies. I think everyone understands what the United States is doing. At least the senior leaders in their governments do.

QUESTION: When you talk of Iran, can you tell us a little bit about the nature of what these conversations are going to be like amid Iran still in Syria, in Lebanon; concerns the Israelis have, certainly?

SECRETARY POMPEO: Yeah. We took over for an administration that had let Iran run loose. It is a big effort to push back against them, make no mistake about it. The United States policy was to work closely alongside Iran, and 24 months in now we have absolutely made progress. I hear lots of talk about the fact that U.S. sanctions alone don’t work. We should all go see what the value of the rial is to see if there’s any truth to that. I’ll let others evaluate it. But make no mistake, we’re committed. They’re the world largest state sponsor of terror. They continue an assassination campaign in Europe. Hizballah continues to threaten not only Lebanon but Israel.

These are things that there is an enormous coalition that we have built and which we will continue to expand upon that understands the threat to their countries, to the United States, and to the world, and we’re going to talk to them about the modalities by which we may continue to apply pressure for the singular purpose of getting the revolutionary behavior of the Iranian regime to stop, to – I laid out the 12 things we’d like Iran not to do, and that remains unchanged.

MR PALLADINO: Tracy, do you have a question?

QUESTION: Yeah, but you understand the confusion —

SECRETARY POMPEO: I’m sorry?

QUESTION: You understand the confusion when the President says one thing and Bolton says another thing. How do we interpret all of this? How do we – the contradictions about Syria?

SECRETARY POMPEO: I think they’ve both said the same thing.

QUESTION: Well, not exactly. Withdrawal immediately, withdrawal —

SECRETARY POMPEO: They’ve both said we’re going to get out.

QUESTION: Yeah.

SECRETARY POMPEO: The President said we’re going to do it in an orderly fashion that achieves our objective, and that the – our mission set in the region remains unchanged. Those seems pretty – it seemed pretty consistent to me.

QUESTION: But don’t you lose some sort of leverage by no longer having U.S. troops in Syria? At some point, when you talk about wanting to protect the Kurds or push back on the Iranian influence, is that lessened by the fact that you don’t have a military presence there?

SECRETARY POMPEO: We will accomplish our mission. I am very confident of that. The decisions about how to do that, right, we’ve got our – as an example, we counter ISIS in lots of places in the world, right? Many, many, in West Africa, in Asia, Southeast Asia. There are lots of places that we’ve got real counter-ISIS campaigns ongoing and underway. In some of them we have uniformed soldiers, and in some of them we don’t. These are tactical, and our mission set is how do we best use the tool set that we have – coalition building, our own American power – to achieve that end, and this is what we’re doing in Syria and in Iraq and all throughout the Middle East.

QUESTION: Do you want Arab troops then to maybe take that role on in northern Syria?

SECRETARY POMPEO: We’re going to talk a lot about how to make sure we’re doing everything we can – we the broader we, the collective we, not just the United States is doing and how we make sure that – now look, we’ve taken down 99 percent of the caliphate, 99 percent of the caliphate. That should be the first sentence in every story, right? Everybody agree? Anybody disagree with the facts? This has been an enormously successful campaign, and we’ve had lots of good partners doing that. The United States had an important role, but lots of folks have helped us achieve that, and I am confident we will continue to ensure that the kind of rise that ISIS had under the Obama administration doesn’t occur again.

QUESTION: That ensuring – sorry, that enduring defeat of ISIS is still the —

SECRETARY POMPEO: Yes, (inaudible). And we know these are longtime challenges, right? The threat from radical Islamic terrorism is going to be with us for a while, and we’re determined to stay at it and continue to make sure that the resurgence of large land-based caliphates like ISIS don’t happen on our watch.

QUESTION: Has the withdrawal started already or not?

SECRETARY POMPEO: I’m not going to talk about that. I’ll leave the (inaudible).

QUESTION: What about (inaudible) – how about the diplomatic personnel, diplomatic personnel?

SECRETARY POMPEO: I’m not going to talk about that either.

QUESTION: And Israel-Palestine, do we – are you expecting to be raising anything of that about the U.S. peace plan and —

SECRETARY POMPEO: Yes, we will absolutely talk about that. We’ll talk about how it is that we can achieve that part of our mission statement as well. We probably won’t get into a great deal of detail about the to and fro, but we will absolutely make that part of our conversations. It’s an important part of this administration’s plans for how you get stability in the Middle East.

QUESTION: But is that being held off until the elections, the Israeli elections?

SECRETARY POMPEO: We’re trying to (inaudible) make sure that Israel and the Palestinians find a peaceful way forward.

QUESTION: What are the biggest specific short-term deliverables you’re looking to get from your counterparts on Syria and on Iran?

SECRETARY POMPEO: I’m not going to talk about the details of the conversations that we’re going to have, but —

QUESTION: But anything you’re looking to do or get to advance – to advance these goals (inaudible)?

SECRETARY POMPEO: Yeah, lots of things, but I’m not going to share them with you. Yeah. Look, it should be noticed, right, we have built out a coalition that is unequaled in the Middle East, right? We have countries working together that for a long time were at cross-purposes. My first stop in Amman, they’re working closely with other partners that they haven’t always worked with, and we will – we’ll go on to Cairo. They too are working on projects that are of a nature and scope that are unprecedented.

This is a coalition that understands that the largest threats – terrorism and the Islamic Republic of Iran – are things that we ought to work on jointly, and we’ll be marshalling all of the resources – theirs and ours – to achieve them. But I would say too we’ll have an opportunity to make sure that we include the Europeans in this. They want to be part of this counter-ISIS campaign in an important way just as they have been, and we have every expectation they’ll continue to be.

QUESTION: So what’s the course correction that you’re trying to make from the last administration and this one in broad strokes in terms of U.S. Middle East policy?

SECRETARY POMPEO: Yeah, we’re actually going to set a policy that’s actually going to stop Iran from getting nuclear weapons. That’s probably the most important thing that we’re expecting to achieve.

Do you have one more?

QUESTION: Yeah, I have one more. I understand there’s going to be a speech in Cairo. Is there any desire to preview it a little bit for us?

SECRETARY POMPEO: I’ll give lots of remarks during my time here to you all on the plane, and otherwise I will give a set of remarks in Cairo as well. We’ll give you a little heads-up before it gets out and rolled out. So yeah, a sense of the structure.

QUESTION: Okay, thank you.

MODERATOR: Thank you, sir.

SECRETARY POMPEO: Thank you all.