US Secretary of State to Saudi Arabia to strengthen its relationship with Baghdad and reduce the "influence" of Iran
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will travel to the Middle East, South Asia and Europe, and the "conflict" in Iraq and Syria and its relationship with Iran will be his first, the State Department said Friday.

"Tillerson will leave Friday for Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Pakistan and India before
returning home via Switzerland on October 27," the ministry said in a press release.

"In Riyadh, Tillerson will discuss ways to improve relations between Saudi Arabia and Iraq by participating in the first meeting of the new coordination council between the two countries. This effort, which US officials say Tillerson has pushed for months, is aimed at curbing Iran's growing influence in Iraq through Encouraging Baghdad to align closely with Riyadh. "

Tillerson will also meet with Saudi officials to discuss their ongoing military campaign in Yemen and the crisis between Gulf Arab states and Qatar. Tillerson has tried since June to try to mediate a conflict between traditional Gulf partners, which hosts two major US military bases, The next stop followed by Islamabad and New Delhi. "

"In Pakistan and India, Tilerson will reaffirm Trump's strategy in South Asia, which relies heavily on anti-terrorist efforts in Afghanistan and Pakistan, but also identifies India as one of four democratic marinas in the Indian Ocean and Pacific region. The other three are Australia, Japan and the United States. "

"Administration officials say they see the four countries acting as a bloc to confront China, which is becoming increasingly assertive," she said.

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Source: The Washington Post
Translated by: Haider Al Khazali