Ahmad Sharawi is a research assistant with The Washington Institute’sRubin Family Arab Politics Program. He specializes in political and economic affairs of the Levant, North Africa, and Gulf regions.
Essa Nahari is a journalist at Independent Arabia focusing on U.S. and Gulf affairs. He was formerly an intern with The Washington Institute’s Rubin Family Arab Politics Program.
Brief Analysis
The pandemic left President Biden with fewer opportunities to host regional leaders early in his term, but the quantities and patterns in each administration’s invitations offer additional revelations about their policy priorities.
Amid a July 18 White House meeting with Israeli president Isaac Herzog, President Biden reportedly invited Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to visit the United States as well. Netanyahu’s office did not specify when and where the meeting will take place, prompting media speculation that a sit-down may occur on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meeting in New York. Whether or not those talks occur, Biden has hosted far fewer visits from Middle East leaders than his predecessors did during their first two-and-a-half years in office:
President Biden: 5 visits since taking office.
President Trump: 20 visits between January 2017 and July 2019.
President Obama: 21 visits between January 2009 and July 2011.
Even Obama’s second term saw more such visits: 11 between January 2012 and July 2014. Of course, part of the reason for the drop in Middle East visits is the COVID-19 pandemic, which affected visits from other regions as well—overall, President Biden has hosted 36 meetings with foreign leaders worldwide, compared to 87 during the first part of Trump’s term. Even so, a closer look at each administration’s track record offers interesting insights into their policy priorities.
The Obama Administration (2009-2017)
In total, President Obama’s two terms saw him participate in more than 50 meetings with 18 different Middle East leaders on American soil. The bulk of these meetings were held with the leaders of Israel, Jordan, and Turkey, including 12 with Netanyahu, 12 with King Abdullah II, and five with Recep Tayyip Erdogan (both as prime minister and president). Obama also held six meetings with two consecutive Iraqi prime ministers.
First Term (2009-2012)
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak: 2 meetings
August 17-19, 2009: Discussions on bilateral relations and expanding social and economic partnerships.
December 5, 2014: Discussions on the rise in extremism and the challenges of achieving comprehensive Israeli-Palestinian peace.
February 3, 2015: Discussions on efforts to deal with the Islamic State.
February 24, 2016: Discussions on Syria, the Islamic State, and rising Israeli-Palestinian tensions.
March 31, 2016: Discussions during the Nuclear Security Summit.
Kuwaiti Emir Sabah: 1 meeting
May 14, 2015: Discussions at a Camp David summit with Gulf Cooperation Council leaders on countering violent extremism.
Moroccan King Mohammed VI: 1 meeting
November 22, 2013: Discussions on economic partnerships, counterterrorism cooperation, and Middle East peace prospects.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas: 1 meeting
March 17, 2014: Discussions on bilateral relations and prospects for comprehensive peace.
Qatari Emir Hamad: 1 meeting
April 23, 2013: Discussions on security issues, as well as challenges in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.
Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani: 2 meetings
February 24, 2015: Discussions on political, social, and economic issues.
May 14, 2015: Discussions at a Camp David summit with Gulf Cooperation Council leaders on countering violent extremism.
Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz: 1 meeting
September 4, 2015: Discussions on the Iran nuclear deal, bilateral relations, and the situation in Yemen.
Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi: 1 meeting
May 20, 2015: Discussions on expanding the bilateral strategic partnership and consolidating Tunisian democracy.
Turkish Prime Minister/President Erdogan: 2 meetings
May 14, 2013: Discussions at the UN General Assembly.
March 31, 2016: Discussions during the Nuclear Security Summit.
UAE Crown Prince Muhammad bin Zayed: 1 meeting
April 20, 2015: Discussions on counterterrorism collaboration, energy partnerships, and the Iran nuclear deal.
Yemeni President Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi: 1 meeting
August 1, 2013: Discussions on the political transition in Yemen.
The Trump Administration (2017-2021)
In addition to meetings at the UN and other venues, President Trump hosted more than 20 White House visits by 13 different Middle East leaders throughout his tenure, including 11 leaders in his first year and five more his second year. Prime Minister Netanyahu was the most frequent regional visitor, with five trips between February 2017 and September 2020.
Bahraini Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa: 1 meeting
September 16, 2019: Discussions on maritime security, the Iranian threat, counterterrorism, and peace in the Middle East.
Egyptian President Sisi: 3 meetings
April 3, 2017: Discussions on “efforts to strengthen the United States-Egypt strategic partnership and to mark a new day in the relationship between the countries.”
April 9, 2019: Discussions on military issues, trade, and progress on combating terrorism.
September 24, 2018: Discussions on military issues, trade, and progress on combating terrorism.
Iraqi Prime Minister Abadi: 1 meeting
March 20, 2017: Discussions on “America’s support for Iraq and the Iraqi people in our shared fight” against the Islamic State.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi: 1 meeting
August 20, 2020: Discussions on the U.S. military mission in Iraq and security, energy, and economic issues.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu: 5 meetings
Feb 15, 2017: Discussions on the bilateral partnership, security assistance to Israel, and preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
September 18, 2017: Discussions at the UN General Assembly regarding Israel’s concerns about the Iran nuclear deal.
March 25, 2019: Discussions on the U.S. decision to recognize Israel’s authority over the Golan Heights.
January 27, 2020: Discussions on the Trump administration’s Middle East peace plan.
September 15, 2020: Discussions on regional countries normalizing relations with Israel ahead of the Abraham Accords signing ceremony.
Jordanian King Abdullah II: 2 meetings
April 5, 2017: Discussions on strengthening America’s longstanding support for Jordan, Syria, the fight against the Islamic State, and the Arab Peace Initiative.
June 25, 2018: Discussions on the bilateral partnership, U.S. commitment to Jordan’s stability and security, and countering Iran’s malign influence in Syria and the broader Middle East.
Kuwaiti Emir Sabah: 2 meetings
September 7, 2017: Discussions on bilateral commitment to shared security interests, Kuwait’s crucial contributions to regional stability, and its partnership in the fight against the Islamic State.
September 5, 2018: Discussions on bilateral relations, investments, and the fight against the Islamic State.
Lebanese Prime Minister Hariri: 1 meeting
July 25, 2017: Discussions on “issues of mutual concern, including the fight against terrorism, the economy, and refugees”
Palestinian Authority President Abbas: 2 meetings
May 3, 2017: Discussions on “the advancement of Middle East peace and the strengthening of United States-Palestinian relations.”
September 21, 2017: Discussions at the UN General Assembly on “working toward an enduring Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement.”
Qatari Emir Tamim: 3 meetings
September 20, 2017: Discussions on “ways to enhance bilateral cooperation and advance security, stability, and prosperity across the Middle East.”
April 10, 2018: Discussions on the fight against terrorism and Qatar’s dispute with its neighbors.
July 9, 2019: Discussions on the latest regional and international developments, counterterrorism, economic ties, and security ties.
Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman: 2 meetings
March 15, 2017: Discussions on “support for a strong, broad, and enduring strategic partnership based on a shared interest and commitment to the stability and prosperity of the Middle East region.”
March 20, 2018: Discussions on bilateral relations, investments, and the Iran nuclear deal.
Turkish President Erdogan: 2 meetings
May 16, 2017: Discussions on fighting terrorist groups and the U.S. decision to arm Kurdish militias.
November 14, 2019: Discussions on the commitment to resolve bilateral policy disputes.
UAE Crown Prince Muhammad: 1 meeting
May 15, 2017: Discussions on deepening the bilateral strategic partnership, defense cooperation, and counterterrorism, resolving the conflicts in Yemen and Syria, and dealing with Iranian threats to regional stability.
The Biden Administration
Since assuming office, President Biden has hosted just four Middle East leaders at the White House: King Abdullah II of Jordan, Prime Minister Kadhimi of Iraq, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, and Qatar’s Emir Tamim. Overall visits include the following:
Iraqi Prime Minister Kadhimi: 1 meeting
July 26, 2021: Discussions on “key areas of shared interest, including through education, health, cultural, energy, and climate initiatives.” President Biden also emphasized his desire to strengthen bilateral cooperation on political, economic, and security issues, including joint efforts toward ensuring the Islamic State’s “enduring defeat.”
Israeli Prime Minister Bennett: 1 meeting
August 27, 2021: Discussions on the Iran nuclear program and ways to promote peace and prosperity for Israelis and Palestinians
Jordanian King Abdullah II: 2 meetings
July 19, 2021: Discussions on enhancing peace and stability in the region, the economic challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, President Biden’s infrastructure plan, and Jordan’s plans for a desalination project.
May 10, 2022: Discussions on “the close friendship and enduring partnership between the United States and Jordan.”
Qatari Emir Tamim: 1 meeting
January 31, 2022: Discussions on the two countries’ “mutual interest in promoting security and prosperity in the Gulf and broader Middle East region, ensuring the stability of global energy supplies, supporting the people of Afghanistan, and strengthening commercial and investment cooperation.”
Comparison to Other Regions
Under President Biden, the most frequent foreign visits have come from Europe, with 12 leaders from that region invited to Washington since 2021. In the same period, 10 leaders from Asia have visited and 5 from Africa.
Ahmad Sharawi is a research assistant with The Washington Institute’sRubin Family Arab Politics Program, where Essa Nahari is an intern.
