Secretary of State Marco Rubio landed in Israel late Saturday night, marking his inaugural visit to the Middle East in his new capacity. This trip, scheduled from February 15 to 18, will also take him to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, as detailed in a State Department press release. The primary focus of Rubio’s engagements with regional leaders will be to bolster U.S. interests, particularly in enhancing cooperation, stability, and peace in the area.
A significant part of Rubio’s agenda will revolve around efforts to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas, which includes U.S. citizen Sagui Dekel-Chen, who was among three hostages released by the militant group shortly before Rubio’s arrival. Additionally, discussions will aim to advance the second phase of a ceasefire agreement in Gaza and to address the destabilizing actions of Iran and its affiliates.
Rubio, a long-time advocate for Israel during his tenure in the Senate, has recently taken a stand against anti-Israel sentiment, exemplified by his decision to cancel a planned trip to a G20 summit in South Africa due to the country’s diplomatic stance against Israel. His visit to Israel comes at a critical time, as the region continues to navigate tensions and humanitarian concerns stemming from recent conflicts.
In addition to addressing immediate security concerns, Rubio is expected to engage in talks aimed at expanding the Abraham Accords, a series of agreements that normalize relations between Israel and several Arab nations. He may also discuss a controversial proposal from former President Donald Trump regarding U.S. oversight of Gaza, which includes relocating a significant portion of the Palestinian population to other Arab nations.
As Rubio embarks on this pivotal trip, the outcomes of his discussions could have lasting implications for U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East and the broader dynamics of peace and cooperation in the region.