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Barack Obama’s presidential campaign announced Saturday that the Illinois senator would travel to Europe and the Middle East “to assess the situation in countries that are critical to American national security.” The campaign said the Democratic presidential candidate plans to visit France, Germany, Israel, Jordan and the United Kingdom to discuss national security issues and climate change. “This will be an important opportunity to have an exchange of views with leaders in these countries about these and other issues that are critical to American national security -- and global security -- in the 21st century,” Obama said. The campaign did not reveal whether the senator would also visit Afghanistan and Iraq. Republicans have hammered Obama over the fact that he has not been to Iraq in about two and a half years. The Illinois senator’s campaign said, however, that he would go there before the election. Visiting Israel could help Obama with assuaging concerns that some Jewish voters have expressed over the presumptive Democratic nominee. “Israel is a strong and close friend of the United States, and is confronting grave threats from Gaza to Tehran,” Obama said regarding the trip. By going abroad to meet with foreign leaders, Obama also hopes to show that he is ready to represent the U.S. on the international stage. “France, Germany, and the United Kingdom are key anchors of the transatlantic alliance and have contributed to the mission in Afghanistan, and I look forward to discussing how we can strengthen our partnership in the years to come,” he said. |
