Skip to main content

Mideast Leaders Visit US, Seek Support and Understanding

US influence on a rapidly changing Middle East is questionable. Nevertheless, several politicians from the region visited Washington this week in hopes of attracting support for their causes, showing that regional figures still care about US opinion and find embarking on such charm offensives worthwhile. Barbara Slavin reports.
RTRENUT.jpg

The United States may be seen by some as a declining global power. But that hasn’t stopped several Middle Eastern politicians from visiting Washington this week in hopes of attracting US support — or at least neutrality — for their causes.

The visitors included Islamist politicians from Egypt and Tunisia who are at the cusp of taking power in in the wake of the Arab Spring. Also in Washington this week: the president of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) of Iraq, Massoud Barzani.

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.