Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Air Force Gen. CQ Brown, Jr., proceeded with a planned visit to Israel on Sunday, despite escalating hostilities in the region. Earlier that day, the Israeli Defense Forces and Lebanese Hezbollah exchanged live fire in the north, heightening tensions.
Gen. Brown, on a three-country tour of the Middle East, prioritized the visit to Israel, emphasizing the significance of maintaining strong ties with the U.S. ally despite the volatile situation. Speaking to reporters on Monday, Brown explained his decision, stating, “I wanted to make sure we had options to still go to Israel. We monitored the situation throughout the day, and I talked to my Israeli counterpart.”
Brown’s visit to Israel followed earlier stops in Jordan and Egypt, where he met with high-level officials. Upon arriving in Tel Aviv, Brown met with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Chief of the General Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi. According to a statement from the chairman’s office, the leaders reaffirmed the importance of the U.S.-Israeli strategic partnership and discussed ways to de-escalate tensions to avoid a broader conflict.
The discussions also covered the need for humanitarian assistance in Gaza, minimizing civilian casualties, and preventing the conflict from spreading. This visit marked Brown’s second trip to Israel since becoming chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in October 2023, following an earlier visit with Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III in December of the same year.
Brown highlighted the importance of his visit in demonstrating the United States’ commitment to the region. “The fact that I still went — I think from a timing perspective — I thought was important,” Brown said. He emphasized that his presence in Israel, despite the day’s earlier exchange of fire, sent a strong message aimed at deterring a broader conflict.
When asked about the role of trust in his work with regional counterparts, Brown underscored the value of listening and understanding different perspectives as foundational to building trust. “I really believe that I learn more by listening; by going in, listening to what our partners have to say and trying to understand their perspective,” he noted.
After completing his tour of the Middle East, which included celebrating 75 years of diplomatic relations with Jordan and being the first chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to visit Egypt since 2016, Brown reflected on the importance of in-person diplomacy. “Anytime I can get out and engage with our partners … I think there’s great value in that,” Brown said. “That’s how you build trust: by being present.”–News Desk