Notes from the Road: The Vice President and Dr. Biden’s Trip to the Middle East
This week, the Vice President and Dr. Biden are traveling through the Middle East: from the United Arab Emirates to Israel to the West Bank to Jordan. Follow along with their daily itineraries, and see what they see, right here.
Day One: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
The Vice President tours the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.
Dr. Biden visits the General Women’s Union, chaired by Her Highness Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Al Ketbi, to learn more about UAE’s efforts to promote gender empowerment.
The Vice President tours Masdar City — an economic free zone for sustainable urban development.
Dr. Biden visits NYU Abu Dhabi to tour the campus and meet with local college students to discuss the importance of educational opportunities.
The Vice President and Dr. Biden visit United States and coalition forces in the UAE.
“On a daily basis, each of you show the world what words like service, strength, and sacrifice really mean. You and your fellow service members around the world inspire us. We’re honored to be in your presence, and we want all of you to know that everyone back home appreciates all that you do.” — Dr. Jill Biden
The Vice President attends a working dinner with His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.
Here’s a readout from their meeting:
The Vice President met today in Abu Dhabi with the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The leaders discussed the full range of regional and bilateral issues that define the close partnership between the United States and the United Arab Emirates, including enhancing counter-terrorism cooperation against Al-Qaeda and ISIL, advancing U.S. -GCC relations, and working to resolve the conflicts in Yemen, Syria, and Libya. Noting his visit to Masdar, the Vice President commended the UAE for its global leadership advancing renewable energy innovation and integration. The Vice President thanked the Crown Prince for the UAE’s generous humanitarian support to Syria and contribution to the international stabilization fund for Iraq. The Vice President encouraged increased UAE and GCC assistance to Iraqi communities liberated from ISIL. The two leaders also discussed ways to advance bilateral cooperation on finding a cure for cancer. They reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to the strategic partnership between the United States and the United Arab Emirates as a hallmark of regional cooperation.
Day Two: From Dubai to Tel Aviv
The Vice President holds a bilateral meeting with His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum of the United Arab Emirates.
Here’s a readout from their meeting:
The Vice President met today in Dubai with the Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The Vice President commended Sheikh Mohammed for his visionary leadership of Dubai and the strong economic ties between the United Arab Emirates and the United States. The leaders acknowledged the spirit of innovation and global trade that binds both countries as important pillars of regional economic development and prosperity. The leaders also discussed regional security challenges and the importance of sustained close cooperation between the United States and the United Arab Emirates to address those challenges.
Dr. Biden visits the K-12 School of Research Science and delivers remarks to commemorate International Women’s Day.
The Vice President delivers remarks at a young entrepreneurs event at the Emirates Tower.
The Vice President and Dr. Biden depart Dubai for Tel Aviv, Israel.
Here’s a readout from their meeting:
The Vice President met today with former Israeli President Shimon Peres at the Peres Center for Peace in Tel Aviv. The two leaders have a longstanding friendship, and spent time discussing a wide range of regional issues. The Vice President condemned in the strongest possible terms the brutal attack which occurred in Jaffa during his meeting with President Peres, and commented that there is no justification for such acts of terror. He expressed his sorrow at the tragic loss of American life and offered his condolences to the family of the American citizen murdered in the attack, as well as his wishes for a full and quick recovery for the wounded. The leaders also discussed ways to deepen U.S.-Israeli collaboration on research to combat cancer.
Following their meeting, the Vice President and former President Peres met briefly with several Israeli and Palestinian girls who participate in the Peres Center’s Girls Football program, which promotes friendship and understanding between Israeli and Palestinian youth through sports.
Day Three: From Jerusalem to Ramallah
The Vice President and Dr. Biden greet Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu and Sara Netanyahu at the Offices of Prime Minister Netanyahu.
The Vice President and Prime Minister Netanyahu deliver brief remarks.
The Vice President holds a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu.
Here’s a readout of their meeting:
The Vice President met today with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem. The two leaders discussed a range of shared security concerns across the region, including the threat of ISIL and other terrorist organizations, the ongoing crisis in Syria, and Iran’s destabilizing activities. The Vice President reaffirmed the enduring and unshakable U.S. commitment to Israel’s security, noting unprecedented levels of security assistance provided by the Obama administration. The Vice President and the Prime Minister also discussed opportunities for Israel to strengthen its relationships with its neighbors, including through new energy partnerships. Finally, the Vice President and the Prime Minister discussed ongoing violence and tensions between the Israelis and the Palestinians. The Vice President reiterated his condemnation for yesterday’s brutal terrorist attacks, including the murder of U.S. citizen, Taylor Force.
The Vice President and President of Israel Reuven Rivlin deliver brief remarks at the Residence of the President.
Along with his grandchildren, the Vice President makes an unannounced stop at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem’s Old City.
The Vice President holds a bilateral meeting with President Rivlin.
The Vice President holds a bilateral meeting with President Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian Authority, at the Muqataa Presidential Compound.
Here’s a readout of their meeting:
The Vice President met with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas tonight in Ramallah. The two leaders discussed the ongoing violence between Israelis and Palestinians, including the tragic terrorist attack yesterday in Jaffa that killed U.S. citizen Taylor Force, which the Vice President strongly condemned. The Vice President reiterated the United States’ enduring support for a two state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and urged all parties to take steps to de-escalate tensions, uphold obligations, and prevent inflammatory rhetoric.
Day Four: From Jerusalem to Amman, Jordan
Readout of the Vice President’s Call with Yitzhak Herzog, leader of Israel’s Labor Party:
The Vice President spoke to Yitzhak Herzog, leader of Israel’s Labor Party, today by phone in Tel Aviv. The two leaders discussed the ongoing violence between Israelis and Palestinians, and condemned the recent terrorist attack that tragically killed U.S. citizen, Taylor Force. The Vice President reaffirmed the unshakeable support of the United States for Israel’s security and for a two state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The leaders discussed ways to reduce the current tensions and make forward progress.
In the morning, the Vice President and Dr. Biden depart Jerusalem en route Amman, Jordan.
The Vice President meets with His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan at the Husseiniya Palace.
Dr. Biden visits the Al Fdain School in Mafraq, Jordan.
Due to the conflict in Syria, Jordan has become home to more than 325,000 Syrian refugee children, many of whom have missed years of schooling and are enduring the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder.
The Al Fdain School in Mafraq, Jordan, has opened its doors to thousands of Syrian refugee students.
Next, Dr. Biden heads to the Za’atri refugee camp.
Just 10 miles from the Syrian border, the Za’atri refugee camp in Jordan is home to 80,000 Syrian refugees, approximately 54 percent of whom are 17 years old or under. Since 2012, over 460,000 refugees have passed through the camp.
Meanwhile, the Vice President attends a military exercise at the Jordanian Operational Engagement Program.
“Hey, guys, my name is Joe Biden, and I came to say thanks.”
“You’re training a lot of people to be better soldiers, better Marines, better airmen. And I just came first and foremost to say thank you.”
“The world — not just the United States — is a safer place and better off because you exist. Because of what you do.”
“Only one percent of you are doing all the fighting and all the training in all of America — one percent. But 99 percent of the country owes you.”
“So I want to tell you I couldn’t be more proud of you. And I speak not just for the President — I speak for the American people — when I say that not only you’re the finest warriors the world has ever produced. You’re the most decent group of people in the world, what you do. And you ask for nothing.”
What’s the Jordanian Operational Engagement Program?
The Jordanian Operational Engagement Program (JOEP) transitioned from the Jordanian Operational Deployment Program (JODP) at the beginning of calendar year 2015. JODP was the program wherein the U.S. trained Jordanians to deploy to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. JOEP operates pursuant to 10 USC Section 2282, which allows the U.S. to build the capacity of foreign forces in order to conduct counterterrorism operations or participate in or support on-going allied or coalition military operations that benefit the national security of the United States.
Under JOEP, the U.S. rapidly provided eight UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters at a no cost lease that was discovered as an urgent need in support of counterterrorism operations. We have also obligated $200M for eight additional Blackhawk helicopters. These lift assets allow for rapid deployment to protect all of Jordan’s borders.
The most significant benefit of the JOEP program is the development of highly capable, rapidly deployable, and combat focused Soldiers and Marines equipped with $75M worth of night vision devices, radios, and high tech weapon systems.
The U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps provide forces on a rotational basis to train units from the Jordanian Border Guard Force, Northern and Eastern Regional Commands, the Quick Reaction Force, and the 77thMarine Battalion. The training consists of infantry skills, communications, medical, and close air support. The Joint Training Center located in Zarqa, Jordan hosts the majority of the training.
The current U.S. Army unit training is the 5th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment.
The U.S. Marines are a combination of 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment and the Security Cooperation Team — Jordan. We refer to this combined unit as the Train and Advise Mission — Jordan (TAM-J).
