WASHINGTON — Secretary of State John Kerry is returning to the Middle East for security talks in Egypt and discussions in Qatar with Arab foreign ministers whose countries are wary of the nuclear deal struck with Iran.
Kerry departs Friday for Cairo, where he will participate in a strategic dialogue with Egyptian officials that has been on hiatus because of political unrest since 2009. Despite continuing human rights concerns, the Obama administration is increasing military assistance to Egypt as it confronts growing threats from extremists, particularly on the Sinai peninsula.
From Egypt, Kerry will travel to the Qatari capital of Doha to meet his Gulf Arab counterparts in a bid to soothe concerns about the Iran deal. The Sunni-ruled Gulf Arab states fear Shiite Iran’s increasing assertiveness in the region.
