Aftandilian in The Arab Weekly on Pence’s Middle East Trip
Gregory Aftandilian, Lecturer at the Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies at Boston University, published an Op-Ed examining United States Vice President Mike Pence’s recent trip to the Middle East.
Aftandilian’s Op-Ed, entitled “Pence’s Middle East Trip Sets Back Peace Process Even Further,” was published in the Arab Weekly on January 28, 2018.
From the text of the article:
Although he was received cordially by Egyptian and Jordanian leaders, US Vice-President Mike Pence’s comments in Israel have put the peace process in reverse gear.
Pence’s trip was delayed for a month, ostensibly because he was needed in Washington in case there was a tie vote in the Senate but in reality because the Trump administration wanted the atmosphere to cool down in the region following US President Donald Trump’s announcement to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and to take initial steps to move the US Embassy from Tel Aviv.
In Egypt, Pence was received warmly by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who addressed him as a “dear guest” and said the visit “speaks volumes” about Egypt’s relations with the Trump administration. Pence said the USEgyptian bilateral relationship has “never been stronger,” referring to the fight on terrorism.
Aftandilian spent over 21 years in government service, most recently on Capitol Hill where he was foreign policy adviser to Congressman Chris Van Hollen (2007-2008), professional staff member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and foreign policy adviser to Senator Paul Sarbanes (2000-2004), and foreign policy fellow to the late Senator Edward Kennedy (1999).