Assistance Deals with Gulf States, Israel, Egypt

Statement by Secretary Condoleezza Rice
Washington, DC
July 30, 2007

Assistance Agreements with Gulf States, Israel and Egypt

In advance of my trip to the Middle East with Secretary Gates, I am pleased to announce a renewed commitment to the security of our key strategic partners in the region. To support our continued diplomatic engagement in the region, we are forging new assistance agreements with the Gulf States, Israel, and Egypt. This effort will help bolster forces of moderation and support a broader strategy to counter the negative influences of al-Qaeda, Hizballah, Syria, and Iran. During our visits to Egypt and Saudi Arabia, Secretary Gates and I will meet with our counterparts to discuss ways to advance security and stability in Iraq. I will also meet the Foreign Ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, Egypt, and Jordan to discuss regional issues in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. Later, I will travel to Jerusalem and Ramallah to continue discussions on the development of a political horizon with Israeli and Palestinian officials.

Through our Gulf Security Dialogue, we are helping to strengthen the defensive capabilities of our partners, and we plan to initiate discussions with Saudi Arabia and the other Gulf States on a proposed package of military technologies that will help support their ability to secure peace and stability in the Gulf region.

As President Bush mentioned during Prime Minister Olmert's recent visit, we will move soon to conclude a new ten-year military assistance agreement with Israel. This agreement will provide a total of $30 billion to ensure Israel's ability to defend itself.

We are also beginning discussions with the Government of Egypt on a new ten-year, $13 billion military assistance agreement which will strengthen Egypt's ability to address shared strategic goals. Further modernizing the Egyptian and Saudi Armed Forces and increasing interoperability will bolster our partners’ resolve in confronting the threat of radicalism and cement their respective roles as regional leaders in the quest for Middle East peace and in ensuring Lebanon's freedom and independence. We plan to consult closely with Congress and our allies on the specifics of these agreements.

The President and I have asked Under Secretary Nicholas Burns to travel to Israel and the region in mid-August to finalize these agreements.

ENDS

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