Travel to Israel, the West Bank, Morocco, and Algeria, March 26-30, 2022

Summary

• Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken travels to Israel, the West Bank, Morocco, and Algeria March 26-30 to consult with partners on a range of regional and global priorities, including the Russian government’s war on Ukraine, Iran’s destabilizing activities, the Abraham Accords and normalization agreements with Israel, Israeli-Palestinian relations, and preserving the possibility of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, among other topics.

• The Secretary started his trip in Israel and the West Bank.  He met with Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, Foreign Minister and Alternate Prime Minister Yair Lapid, Defense Minister Benny Gantz, and Israeli President Isaac Herzog.  The Secretary underscored the unwavering U.S. commitment to Israel’s security, engaged on Israeli-Palestinian issues, and discussed regional and global challenges with his counterparts in the Israeli government.  The Secretary also met with President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah as well as with representatives of Palestinian civil society.  In these meetings, the Secretary emphasized the importance of strengthening U.S.-Palestinian relations, and advancing freedom, security and prosperity for the Palestinian people.

• In Morocco, he met with Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita and other senior government officials to exchange views on regional issues and bilateral cooperation, as well as advancing human rights and fundamental freedoms.  The Secretary also met with exceptional Moroccan alumnae of U.S.-sponsored exchange programs.

• While in Rabat, the Secretary also met Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to discuss regional security and international developments.

• The Secretary then traveled to Algiers, Algeria for meetings with President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra to discuss regional security and stability, commercial cooperation, advancing human rights and fundamental freedoms, and other areas of mutual concern.  The Secretary also officially inaugurated the United States as the Country of Honor at the Algiers International Trade Fair, the largest trade show of its kind in Africa. He met with U.S. business representatives in Algeria to discuss deepening economic ties and promoting U.S.-Algeria trade and investment.

• During the course of his trip, the Secretary emphasized to all of the foreign leaders he met that the United States stands in solidarity with the government and people of Ukraine in the face of the Kremlin’s aggression.  We will continue to work closely with our allies and partners to impose further costs on Putin and his enablers if Putin does not change course.