Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs travels to Middle East

Washington,Oct 21: Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs Tina Kaidanow will travel to Israel, Qatar, Kuwait and Iraq from October 22 to November 1 for discussions on a variety of international security issues. According to a press release of the Department of State issued here on Friday, the Acting Assistant Secretary Kaidanow will meet with senior officials in Israel to discuss a wide range of political-military issues, including regional strategic priorities, defense trade, and military-to-military cooperation. Israel is a key US security partner and the leading recipient of US military assistance, including more than $3 billion in annual Foreign Military Financing managed by the Department’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs. In Qatar, Acting Assistant Secretary Kaidanow will consult with senior civilian and military officials, as well as US military leaders from United States Central Command. The US-Qatar security relationship is critical to achieving shared security objectives in the region, and we value Qatar’s contributions to facilitating US military operations and contingency planning throughout the region. In Kuwait, Acting Assistant Secretary Kaidanow will hold talks with senior civilian and military officials focused on expanding longstanding partnerships in military preparedness, arms transfers, maritime security, and counterterrorism capability building. Kuwait is a major regional security partner, which has demonstrated its commitment to building its defense capabilities through Foreign Military Sales and licensed Direct Commercial Sales of US-manufactured military equipment, which are regulated by the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs. In Iraq, Acting Assistant Secretary Kaidanow will meet with senior officials to continue progress toward defeating ISIS. US security cooperation activities overseen by the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs are increasing the Iraqi Security Forces’ capability to respond to threats and conduct counter-terrorism operations, while supporting the long-term development of a modern, accountable, and professional Iraqi military capable of defending Iraq and its borders. Talks will also cover continuing US support for the clearance of improvised explosive devices and unexploded munitions in Iraqi territories liberated from ISIS. UNI