My Experience Inside Blinken’s Fast-Paced Diplomatic Mission to the Middle East

On Thursday, Jan. 4, Secretary of State Antony Blinken launched into week-long, 10-stop diplomatic mission — not solely to rally assist for humanitarian reduction in Gaza and urge leaders to forestall the battle from escalating within the area but in addition to ship a blunt warning that Houthi aggression in opposition to international delivery within the Red Sea could be met with extreme penalties.

As Israel continued to pound Hamas targets, and the Houthis threatened freedom of navigation within the Red Sea, Blinken’s quest for an finish to the battle encountered what he known as “tough conversations” with stakeholders within the area — stretching from Turkey (or Türkiye because the nation spells it), Greece, Jordan, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Israel, the West Bank, Bahrain and Egypt.

Here is an inside have a look at what it is like:

Day 1: Departure

The mission departed Joint Base Andrews simply after 11 p.m. ET, flying by means of the night time with a refueling cease Friday morning in Shannon, Ireland. While we waited for the airplane to high off, I discovered a visitor e book signed on June 15, 1967 by former First woman Jaqueline Kennedy, 9-year-old Caroline Kennedy, and 6-year-old John F. Kennedy, Jr.

Day 2: Arrival in Turkey

The airplane refueled after which continued to Istanbul, Turkey arriving simply earlier than 7 p.m. on Jan. 5. U.S. Ambassador Jeff Flake, a former Republican senator from Arizona, greeted Blinken on the tarmac. We left the airport in a motorcade and checked into the resort. Most of the U.S. press corps joined collectively for a bunch dinner at Sur Balik with a number of State Department aides earlier than our protection kicked off the subsequent morning.

Day 3: Istanbul and Crete

Blinken started his conferences Jan. 6 by driving throughout the Bosphorus River to the Asian aspect of Istanbul, the place he met with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at Vahdettin Köşkü, a non-public residence of the presidency perched excessive on a hill in Çengelköy. Blinken and Erdogan met privately. A readout of the assembly acknowledged that they spoke not solely in regards to the battle in Gaza, but in addition the struggle in Ukraine and Sweden’s potential accession to NATO membership.

Then Blinken flew to Crete, Greece — the place he met with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis at his non-public house. Blinken spent solely about three hours in Crete, the place the secretary held his first plane-side gaggle on the airport.

With tensions effervescent all through the Middle East, Blinken emphasised de-escalation, and talked about his plans to have tough conversations with regional leaders — some who might have affect over a few of the actors that would doubtlessly blow the lid off the battle. He confused that it is in no person’s curiosity — together with Israel — to escalate the battle or enable it to unfold past Gaza. He stated he and Mitsotakis additionally mentioned the Houthi assaults within the Red Sea, which grew to become a constant theme all through his conferences within the coming days.

“When you’ve gotten a risk that we now have now to delivery within the Red Sea by the Houthis, a risk that is being posed to not anyone nation however fairly actually to dozens of nations who’re affected, and in some methods to the whole worldwide neighborhood as a result of this has an enormous impact when delivery is made tougher — that implies that individuals are going to be paying extra for heating, it’ll imply they are going to be paying extra for meals, we will have disrupted provide chains,” he stated. “This is a problem to international locations around the globe.”

Then it was onto Amman, Jordan, the place we spent the night time earlier than a busy day forward.

Day 4: Amman and Doha

The subsequent morning, on Jan. 7, we took a motorcade to Zahran Palace, a royal residence the place Crown Prince Hussein of Jordan, the eldest son of King Abdullah II and Queen Rania had lately held his marriage ceremony reception with Saudi Arabian architect Rajwa Al Saif, now Princess Rajwa.

Blinken visited Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi earlier than driving to a different royal residence to privately meet with King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein.

Afterward, Blinken visited a World Food Programme distribution warehouse, the place he acquired an replace on the hassle to circulation assist to civilians in Gaza.

After one other transient press availability, it was again into the motorcade for the drive again to the Amman airport. The journey continued to Doha, Qatar, the place the Qataris rolled out the pink carpet for his arrival.

Blinken met first with Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani at Lusail Palace. This was the primary of Blinken’s conferences with world leaders on the journey that our crew was allowed entry for a twig on the high of the assembly. The Prime Minister, nevertheless, positioned a premium on diplomacy – not a navy response.

“Qatar place could be very clear on defending the liberty of navigation, and what’s occurring within the escalation within the Red Sea is one thing unacceptable that we do not wish to see in our nation. And as I’ve talked about that, that is – sadly is without doubt one of the results of what is occurring proper now in Gaza, and we imagine that it is extra essential now to focus our efforts to achieve an finish and attain a decision to the scenario over there,” Al Thani stated. “We by no means see a navy motion as a decision.”

Al Thani stated his “greatest fear” is “a loop that may by no means finish” and “create an actual rigidity in the whole area.”

“So we hope that we see a cease to what’s occurring to the civilian ships as quickly as potential by means of our diplomatic means. That could be the easiest way potential,” he stated.

We ended the night time after a flight to Abu Dhabi within the United Arab Emirates, arriving on the resort after midnight.

Day 5: Abu Dhabi and Al Ula

The subsequent morning, on January 8, Blinken met with Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nayan, aka MBZ. Blinken then flew onto Al Ula, Saudi Arabia – touchdown simply earlier than sundown on the airport.

We drove by means of Ramallah, arriving on-time on the presidential headquarters often called Muqata’a. We entered and Blinken and Abbas had been already shaking fingers. A readout of the Abbas assembly launched by the