Amman, Jordan – Defense Secretary Robert Gates, visiting the Middle East, will urge leaders to back Iraq’s government and to put aside their doubts about Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s ability to curtail sectarian violence, a senior Defense Department official traveling with Gates said on the plane trip to Jordan.
Arriving in Amman on Monday, Gates was planning to hold talks today with King Abdullah II on ways that Jordan could contribute to U.S. efforts to stabilize neighboring Iraq.
Gates is on his third visit to the region since taking office in December.
Winning greater backing for al-Maliki’s Shiite-dominated government from the Sunni governments of the Middle East has become a major emphasis for the Bush administration since it embarked on a new political and military strategy in Iraq earlier this year.
“Jordan has always been a strong ally of the United States, and I look forward to discussing with the king how we can contribute to his efforts and how he can contribute to ours,” Gates told reporters traveling with him.
He said Jordan was already providing medical assistance and training help for Iraq.
But al-Maliki faces skepticism from Sunni Arab countries over his government’s close ties with the Shiite government in Iran, as well as doubts about whether his government can bring stability to the country, said a senior U.S. official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was speaking of discussions that have not happened yet.