Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in Cairo on Sunday, where he will meet with the country's newest president, Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi.
NPR's Jackie Northam, who is traveling with Kerry, says he is the highest-ranking U.S. official to meet with the former general. She filed this report for our Newscast unit:
"Egypt has had a long standing strategic relationship with the U.S. and receives hundreds of millions of dollars in aid. But Washington has grown concerned about the polarizing political environment under al-Sisi."U.S. officials traveling with Kerry say he will address the government's heavy handed tactics against political opponents, mass trials and death sentences."On Saturday, an Egyptian court confirmed death sentences against one of the leaders of the Muslim brotherhood and more than 180 supporters."Kerry will also talk with al-Sisi about broader regional security concerns. This is the secretary's first stop on a week-long swing through the Middle East and Europe, largely focused on what to do in Iraq."
Quoting unnamed U.S. officials, The New York Times reports that part of this trip will be focused on prodding Arab states to "use their influence with Iraqi politicians and prod them to quickly form an inclusive government." Kerry will also encourage them to stop funding Sunni militants that are part of the Islamic States in Iraq and Syria (ISIS).
The Times adds:
"The group is largely self-sustaining because of success in extortion and its plundering of banks in Mosul, Iraq. But some funding 'has flowed into Iraq from its neighbors,' said a senior official on Mr. Kerry's plane."'That does not mean that it's the result of an official government policy in many, if not most, cases,' the official added. 'But it does mean that some of these governments can do more to stop some of that facilitation.'"
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