‘We weren’t Republicans, we weren’t Democrats’: Malliotakis says Middle East trip united bipartisan delegation

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Discussing mutual security concerns and strengthening alliances were integral in the U.S. congressional delegation’s (CODEL) trip to the Middle East last week.

Rep. Nicole Malliotakis was part of the bipartisan CODEL that visited government officials in Israel, Palestine, and Qatar to build on diplomatic relations and discuss their common security interests in the region.

Malliotakis told the Advance/SILive.com that she found the trip to be successful and insightful.

“There’s a lot happening in this region, it’s very complex and you could read about Israel and the Middle East all you want in a newspaper, but being able to go there and actually sit with the leaders and ask questions and get an understanding of everyone’s point of view. It really helps put the whole picture together and that’s important for the Foreign Affairs Committee,” said Malliotakis.

“It was important, number one, to further solidify our relationship with our allies, also to get a much more clear understanding of the concerns, the present dangers, and the relationships with the Arab nations,” she continued.

Malliotakis added: “Obviously a stable Middle East is incredibly important for the United States, for our national security. And we have strong partners whether it be Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, or U.A.E. whose cooperation is incredibly important, particularly to contain terrorist organizations and these militant groups like Hamas, like Hezbollah”

The congresswoman noted that militant organizations such as Hamas, and the security threat that Iran poses were a major part of the delegation’s discussions with the new Israeli government and the Palestinian National Authority.

Malliotakis also shared that the new Israeli government emphasized their opposition to the U.S. returning to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) Iran nuclear deal, which former President Donald Trump withdrew the U.S. from in 2018.

She said that the country is concerned about the new president-elect of Iran, Ebrahim Raisi -- and said she shares those concerns.

“The Republicans and Democrats in our delegation were very united in that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon and it’s a concern that we share with Israel,” Malliotakis added.

Another takeaway from the discussions, was Israel’s appreciation of the Abraham Accords and desire to build upon them with other countries such as Oman. Before leaving for Israel, Malliotakis met with the ambassador from United Arab Emirates who also expressed “how pleased they were with the economic opportunities that the Abraham Accords have brought them with normalization with Israel,” she explained.

LOCAL CONNECTIONS TO THE MIDDLE EAST

The congresswoman then spoke about the local significance of international relations between the U.S. and Middle East.

“So, even though we’re talking about countries that are so far away, it truly affects our national security and preserves our existence as a nation. So I think that’s just important to make that connection that the region plays a strong role in what happens in the United States,” Malliotakis said.

Referring to New York’s 11th Congressional district she said, “We have a very diverse district. We have a large Jewish population, we also have a growing Muslim population. We have the Egyptian Coptic, a community that’s growing as well.

“I think when you represent a very diverse community like I do, people are very connected to their homelands as well and want to see the United States play a role in bringing peace and stability,” said Malliotakis.

The congresswoman also met with U.S. Central Command Forces airmen at the U.S. Air Force base in Qatar including her constituent, Major Phillip Lopez of Port Richmond, who is part of the 379th Expeditionary Medical Operations Squadron.

“It was really good to be able to just see the work that they’re doing in the region and the role that they’re playing and how Qatar has treated them very well. And we’re appreciative of that security partnership with them,” said Malliotakis.

‘A REAL CAMARADERIE’ AMONG CODEL

Malliotakis mentioned that the CODEL trip felt successful for both international and domestic relations. She described previously feeling division and the polarization between Democrats and Republicans in Congress on U.S. soil but experiencing the opposite during the five-day trip.

“This was the first time in seven months I actually felt like we weren’t Republicans, we weren’t Democrats, we were there as Americans and that was a really good feeling. I felt that there was a real camaraderie that’s come out of this trip, the 10 of us,” she said.

Malliotakis added: “And I think that there’s real opportunities for us to work together. I feel that there’s so much that we agreed on on this trip and we have a lot of shared goals. So I think we’ll see a lot of good things coming out of this committee in the future.”

The CODEL, led by Representative Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY), the Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, included Representatives Andy Barr (R-KY), David Cicilline (D-RI), Ted Deutch (D-FL), French Hill (R-AR), Sara Jacobs (D-CA), Kathy Manning (D-NC), Brad Schneider (D-IL), and Abigail Spanberger (D-VA).

Congresswoman Malliotakis is a member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and a Ranking Member of the committee’s Subcommittee on International Development, International Organizations and Global Corporate Social Impact. She is also a member of the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis.