US Secretary of State regrets his absence at ministerial meeting of Global Coalition against Daesh in Marrakech

The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has expressed regret at not being able to attend the ministerial meeting of the Global Coalition against Daesh convened this Wednesday, May 11, in Marrakech.

This came during a phone call the Secretary of State had Tuesday with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita.

According to a statement from the spokesperson for the US State Department, Antony Blinken told his Moroccan counterpart of “his regret at not being able to attend the ministerial meeting of the Global Coalition against Daesh in Marrakech and told him that the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Victoria Nuland, would represent the United States.”

The US Secretary of State also “thanked the Foreign Minister for Morocco’s hosting of the ministerial meeting, as well as for its commitment to the fight against terrorism and its role in promoting security and regional stability,” the spokesperson added.

The ministerial meeting of the Global Coalition against Daesh in Marrakech, the first to be held in Africa, is convened at the joint invitation of the Moroccan Foreign Minister and the US Secreatry of State.

Antony Blinken had to cancel all his trips after he tested positive for Covid-19 last week. He has since held his meetings in virtual format.

On behalf of Blinken, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland leads the high-level United States delegation to the ministerial meeting. The US delegation also includes Acting Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs Yael Lempert.

In a related development, spokesperson for the State Department on Tuesday told Sky News Arabia that the United States greatly appreciates all the efforts made by the Kingdom of Morocco in the fight against terrorism in Africa and in particular against the Islamic State.

The official praised the work done by Morocco to fight terrorism on the African continent, and especially against the Islamic State group which has several ramifications in Africa.

The coalition meeting in Marrakech confirms once again Morocco’s key role in the fight against terrorism and extremism at the global level, and its leadership in this area

The meeting of the global coalition against Daesh in Africa, held at the ministerial level, is attended by representatives of more than 80 countries and international organizations.

The meeting provides the participating countries involved in the fight against terrorism an opportunity to discuss the challenges imposed by the repositioning of Daesh which has redeployed in Africa since its elimination from Syria and Iraq.

The Global Coalition against Daesh was formed in September 2014 and is unique in its membership, scope and commitment. Together, the Global Coalition is committed to degrading and ultimately defeating Daesh.

The Coalition’s 84 members are committed to tackling Daesh on all fronts, to dismantling its networks and countering its global ambitions.