Global Courant 2023-05-07 23:25:02
Republican House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner, R-Ohio, and leading Democratic Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., revealed that Israel, Jordan and Egypt are pushing for a greater US presence in the Middle East amid growing concerns about a nuclear Iran and a larger Chinese footprint.
“(Israel, Jordan and Egypt) all strongly encouraged the United States on a policy basis to play a stronger role, thinking there are real opportunities to improve the security situation here, but at the same time painted a picture that there are serious threats in that the area and the United States should play a role,” Turner said on CNN’s “State of the Union” Sunday.
Turner and Himes both recently met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shortly after House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s visit to Israel in May. Himes said Netanyahu is “very focused on Iran”, saying “it was unbearable for him to imagine an Iran with a nuclear weapon”.
“The reality is that the JCPOA, whatever you thought of the deal, when it was in effect the Iranians weren’t making uranium and enriching more uranium. Now they are,” Himes said. “So, of course, the problem is that with Iran so brutally abusing its own people, I think the prospect of negotiations is arguably further away than ever before.”
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Turner did say Netanyahu believes Iran can be deterred if the country believes military action will be taken against them, with a chilling effect of such prospects then being imposed on Iran and, as a result, delaying their program.
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi walks with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a welcoming ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Feb. 14, 2023. China recently helped broker an agreement between Iran and Saudi Arabia. (Yan Yan/Xinhua via AP, file)
Similarly, a reportedly China-brokered deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia has put other nations on edge, with the looming threat of China’s increased influence in the region.
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“Well, all three countries we were in – Jordan, Israel and Egypt – have indicated their own steps to reduce China’s footprint or their ability to invade their country, referring specifically to reducing their technology, access to data or to their telecommunications systems.” Turner said.
Ali Shamkhani, right, the secretary of Iran’s top national security council, meets with Saudi national security adviser Musaad bin Mohammed al-Aiban and Wang Yi, China’s top diplomat, in Beijing, March 11, 2023. (Luo Xiaoguang/Xinhua via AP)
“They all cited China’s increased influence in the area as a need for the United States to increase its influence. So everyone is watching this closely and sees this as an opportunity for the United States not only to play a bigger role play for security, but also a greater role in keeping China at bay,” he added.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy applauds during a speech by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the Knesset in Jerusalem, May 1, 2023. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
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Himes agreed, saying all three countries expressed the importance of their relations with the US, calling the alliance “indispensable” and making it clear that they would much rather work with the US than China or Russia.
Haley Chi-Sing is a Fox News digital production assistant. You can reach her at @haleychising on Twitter.
