US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to Visit Middle East
Rubio’s diplomatic mission will take him to Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia from February 13-18, following his participation in the Munich Security Conference.
Feb. 7, 2025
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to pay his first official visit to the Middle East this month, a senior State Department official confirmed Thursday.
His tour comes in the wake of President Donald Trump’s controversial remarks on the potential relocation of Gaza’s population, a statement that has sparked intense global debate.
Rubio’s diplomatic mission will take him to Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia from February 13-18, following his participation in the Munich Security Conference.
This marks his second foreign trip since assuming office, following his recent tour of Latin America.
Gaza at the Heart of Diplomatic Talks
Trump’s comments on Tuesday, after a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, suggested that the United States could temporarily relocate Gaza’s population while funding reconstruction efforts in the wake of Israel’s military response to the unprecedented Hamas attack of Oct. 7, 2023.
The remarks stunned international observers, raising concerns about the humanitarian implications and the broader geopolitical fallout.
Rubio later clarified that Trump’s proposal involved a temporary arrangement aimed at facilitating Gaza’s rebuilding.
On Thursday, during a visit to the Dominican Republic, Rubio emphasized that Trump was also exploring financial and technological support from countries capable of contributing to Gaza’s reconstruction—likely referencing Gulf states.
“I think President Trump has offered to go in and be a part of that solution, and if some other country is willing to step forward and do it themselves, then that would be great,” Rubio said. “But no one seems to be rushing forward to do that, and that has to happen.”
A New US Diplomatic Strategy in the Region
A senior State Department official underscored that Trump had initiated a conversation about Gaza’s future that Rubio would now continue.
"You have to seriously talk about it," the official stated, reinforcing Washington’s position that long-term stability in the region requires active international engagement.
Rubio’s visit is expected to reinforce the US role in Middle Eastern diplomacy, despite Trump appointing real estate mogul Steve Witkoff as a special envoy to the region.
Witkoff, working alongside an outgoing Biden-era envoy, recently facilitated a Qatar-mediated ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.
Reshaping US-Middle East Relations
Rubio’s predecessor, Antony Blinken, made 12 trips to the region following the Oct. 7 attack, primarily focused on ceasefire negotiations.
While Blinken laid the groundwork for a Saudi-Israel normalization deal, he was unable to secure a final agreement.
Saudi Arabia has consistently reiterated that meaningful progress toward Palestinian statehood remains a prerequisite for normalization with Israel.
During Trump’s first term, his administration brokered the Abraham Accords, leading to normalization agreements between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Morocco.
Rubio’s upcoming trip signals a continuation of efforts to expand diplomatic engagement, but with a renewed focus on Gaza’s post-conflict reconstruction and broader regional stability.
As the Biden administration’s policies are reshaped under Trump’s second term, Rubio’s Middle East visit will be a key test of how the US intends to navigate the delicate balance between Israeli security interests, Palestinian aspirations, and Arab world engagement.
AFP contributed to this report.