Working Toward Peace and Prosperity in the Middle East 

Following President Trump’s recent trip to the Middle East, I was honored to join a Congressional delegation to the region with the aim of building on the administration’s recent diplomatic successes — including forging stronger economic partnerships, better relationships between Israel and the Gulf states, and a peaceful resolution to the war in Gaza.

As Chairman Emeritus of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, I have closely tracked the ongoing conflicts and developments shaping the region, and I was proud to visit several of our allies and partners — Saudi Arabia, Israel, and Jordan — at such an important time in history. These nations will play pivotal roles in shaping the future of the region — one that I hope will be defined by peace, stability, and prosperity.

Our first stop was Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where President Trump just secured a commitment to invest $600 billion in the United States. While in Riyadh, we met with Saudi Arabia's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs to continue emphasizing how our nations can work together. Our discussions highlighted the enduring U.S.–Saudi relationship and focused on how greater cooperation between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia can drive regional stability.

While in the region over Memorial Day, I had the honor of meeting with airmen from the 317th Airlift Wing out of Dyess Air Force Base in Abilene, who are currently operating in the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) Area of Responsibility. I couldn’t be more proud of these Texas-based servicemembers, who courageously defend our nation each and every day. Their professionalism and patriotism are a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made by the men and women in uniform — especially on Memorial Day.

From there, we traveled to Israel, where we visited the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem — established by President Trump during his first term. At the embassy, my colleagues and I received a comprehensive briefing on the United States' ongoing efforts to promote and strengthen regional security. In Israel, I also had the opportunity to meet again with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the United States' longstanding partnership with Israel, the current security landscape in the region, and our hopes for a swift and peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict. I commend President Trump’s commitment to pursuing peace in the region and remain hopeful that normalization between Israel and other countries in the region can pave the way for lasting prosperity. 

Our final stop was Jordan, where we met with His Majesty King Abdullah II in Amman. It was a privilege to visit with His Majesty following our recent meeting in Washington, D.C., and to reaffirm our shared commitment to peace and stability throughout the Middle East.

We discussed Jordan's key role as a crucial ally in the region, whose partnership with the United States has been vital in advancing mutual economic and security goals. I look forward to building on our recent progress to reinforce this critical relationship, deepen regional stability, and foster greater opportunity for both our nations.