The U.S. Secretary of State, John Kerry, is visiting Middle East on Wednesday to garner regional support for U.S. led efforts to combat the Islamic State militant group now rampaging in Iraq.
John Kerry
Jennifer Psaki, the State Department Spokeswoman, said on Tuesday in Washington that Kerry would have bilateral discussions with Jordanian and Saudi officials.
She said he would also consult with the key partners and allies in the region.
Psaki said the focus of discussion of the trip would be coalition-building.
“The focus will be on multiple lines of effort, including military support to our Iraqi partners, stopping the flow of foreign fighters, countering ISIL’s financing and funding, addressing humanitarian crises, and de-legitimising ISIL’s ideology,” she said.
“There are obviously a range of capabilities or capacities that different countries have,” she added.
Kerry and Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, have met with ministers of some allies on the sidelines of a NATO summit held in Wales, the United Kingdom, last week.
The meeting was also aimed at mobilising support for U.S. operations against the Islamic State.
Meanwhile, President Barak Obama is scheduled to make a speech on Wednesday, to outline his plans for fighting the group that does not involve a major ground offensive.
Source: Xinhua