Representative Mike Kelly Returns from CODEL Trip to the Middle East

Representative Mike Kelly Returns from CODEL Trip to the Middle East

Washington, D.C. — Representative Mike Kelly (PA-03) returned this weekend from a bipartisan Congressional Delegation (CODEL) to the Middle East, which included stops in Turkey, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Members of the CODEL met with political leaders and foreign officials to discuss Iran’s ongoing pursuit of nuclear weapons, the Bashar Assad regime's brutal crackdown in Syria, the deteriorating situation in Iraq, and other developments that threaten regional and global security.

“The United States’ allies throughout the Middle East share our commitment to securing peace in the Middle East,” said Rep. Kelly. “My colleagues and I met and exchanged ideas with key partners in the region, seeking solutions to the growing Iranian threat and working toward achieving greater stability throughout the region, especially in areas where the U.S. has a strong military and diplomatic presence.”

The trip included meetings with Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Erdoğan and President Abdullah Gül, Qatar’s Heir Apparent His Highness Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Defense His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, as well as visits with U.S. troops stationed at Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates and the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.

The nine-member delegation was led by House Majority Leader Eric Cantor and included Rep. Diane Black (R-TN), Rep. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Rep. Mike Conaway (R-TX), Chairwoman Kay Granger (R-TX) of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations, Chairman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT) and Rep. Todd Young (R-IN).

“It is clear from our discussions that there is widespread consensus that Iran’s nuclear ambitions and continued acts of aggression and intimidation present a clear threat to the international community,” added Rep. Kelly. “The United States and our allies will continue to work together to deter Iran from developing a nuclear weapon and to stop the spread of extremism throughout the Middle East.”

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