Air Force Gen. CQ Brown, Jr., the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, traveled to Israel as part of a three-country visit to the Middle East, despite an exchange of live fire between the Israeli Defense Forces and Lebanese Hezbollah earlier in the day. Brown had already visited Jordan and Egypt to meet with high-level officials before heading to Tel Aviv. He met with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Chief of the General Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi to discuss the U.S.-Israeli strategic partnership, recent engagements across borders, the need to de-escalate tensions, and the importance of providing humanitarian assistance to Gaza residents.
Brown emphasized the United States’ commitment to the region by still deciding to visit Israel after the day’s earlier exchange of fire. He believes that his visit sends a strong message about deterring a broader conflict. Brown views trust as the foundation of the United States’ military profession and prioritizes listening to regional counterparts to understand their perspectives and build trust. He believes that engaging in-person with partners and building trust through presence is crucial for achieving strategic goals.
During his visit to Israel, Brown also discussed the importance of preventing conflicts from broadening and the need for humanitarian assistance in Gaza to minimize civilian casualties. This was Brown’s second trip to Israel since becoming Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in October 2023. His decision to continue with his plans to visit Israel despite the day’s events demonstrates his commitment to regional partnerships and his belief in the value of in-person engagements for building trust and achieving strategic goals. Brown’s visit to the Middle East, which included celebrating diplomatic relations with Jordan and being the first chairman to visit Egypt since 2016, highlights the importance of engaging with partners directly to foster trust and cooperation.
