[Senate Hearing 119-449]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
S. Hrg. 119-449
COUNTERING TERRORISM IN
NORTH AFRICA: OPPORTUNITIES
AND CHALLENGES
=======================================================================
HEARING
BEFORE THE
SUBCOMMITTEE ON NEAR EAST, CENTRAL
ASIA, AND COUNTERTERRORISM
OF THE
COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS
UNITED STATES SENATE
ONE HUNDRED NINETEENTH CONGRESS
SECOND SESSION
__________
FEBRUARY 3, 2026
__________
Printed for the use of the Committee on Foreign Relations
[GRAPHIC NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
Available via http://www.govinfo.gov
______
U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE
64-059 PDF WASHINGTON : 2026
COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS
JAMES E. RISCH, Idaho, Chairman
PETE RICKETTS, Nebraska JEANNE SHAHEEN, New Hampshire
DAVID MCCORMICK, Pennsylvania CHRISTOPHER A. COONS, Delaware
STEVE DAINES, Montana CHRISTOPHER MURPHY, Connecticut
BILL HAGERTY, Tennessee TIM KAINE, Virginia
JOHN BARRASSO, Wyoming JEFF MERKLEY, Oregon
RAND PAUL, Kentucky CORY A. BOOKER, New Jersey
TED CRUZ, Texas BRIAN SCHATZ, Hawaii
MIKE LEE, Utah CHRIS VAN HOLLEN, Maryland
RICK SCOTT, Florida TAMMY DUCKWORTH, Illinois
JOHN R. CURTIS, Utah JACKY ROSEN, Nevada
JOHN CORNYN, Texas
Suzanne Wrasse, Staff Director
Naz Durakoglu, Democratic Staff Director
John Dutton, Chief Clerk
SUBCOMMITTEE ON NEAR EAST, SOUTH ASIA,
CENTRAL ASIA, AND COUNTERTERRORISM
DAVID MCCORMICK, Pennsylvania JACKY ROSEN, Nevada
TED CRUZ, Texas TAMMY DUCKWORTH, Illinois
RICK SCOTT, Florida CHRISTOPHER MURPHY, Connecticut
MIKE LEE, Utah TIM KAINE, Virginia
STEVE DAINES, Montana CORY A. BOOKER, New Jersey
(ii)
C O N T E N T S
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Page
Statements
McCormick, Hon. David, U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania............ 1
Rosen, Hon. Jacky, U.S. Senator from Nevada...................... 3
Witnesses
Palladino, Robert J., Senior Bureau Official, Bureau of Near
Eastern Affairs, U.S. Department of State, Washington, DC...... 4
Prepared statement........................................... 6
Borkert, LTC Joel, USA Ret., Deputy Coordinator for Programs and
Military Coordination, Bureau of Counterterrorism, U.S.
Department of State, Washington, DC............................ 7
Prepared statement........................................... 9
Additional Material Submitted for the Record
Responses to Additional Questions for the Record Submitted to
Robert J. Palladino by Senator Cory A. Booker.................. 22
Responses to Additional Questions for the Record Submitted to LTC
Joel Borkert, USA Ret. by Senator Cory A. Booker............... 23
(iii)
COUNTERING TERRORISM IN
NORTH AFRICA: OPPORTUNITIES
AND CHALLENGES
----------
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2026
U.S. Senate,
Subcommittee on Near East, South Asia,
Central Asia, and Counterterrorism,
Committee on Foreign Relations,
Washington, DC.
The subcommittee met, pursuant to notice, at 3:05 p.m., in
room SD-419, Dirksen Senate Office Building, Hon. David
McCormick, chairman of the subcommittee, presiding.
Present: Senators McCormick [presiding], Cruz, Scott,
Rosen, Shaheen, Murphy, and Kaine.
OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. DAVE MCCORMICK,
U.S. SENATOR FROM PENNSYLVANIA
Senator McCormick. Good afternoon. This hearing will come
to order. Thank you, Senator Rosen. Good to have you here,
Senator Kaine.
The Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on the Near East,
South Asia, Central Asia, and Counterterrorism will come to
order.
I first want to thank our witnesses for being here today--
we have got two great witnesses--and Senator Rosen, for her
partnership and her idea. This hearing was her idea, and I
think it is a good one.
As we continue our crucial work of counterterrorism
oversight, this hearing represents an opportunity to analyze
North Africa, a strategic region important to our national
security interests. The five countries that make up this
region--Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt--occupy
positions of geostrategic significance that directly impact
global commerce and Western security. They control key maritime
chokepoints, serve as gateways between Europe and Sub-Saharan
Africa, and sit within crucial energy corridors.
Libya alone shares borders with six nations and has become
a transit hub for arms, fighters, and illicit trafficking that
threatens the Mediterranean. Egypt controls the Suez Canal,
through which 12 percent of global trade passes. Morocco, of
course, guards the Straits of Gibraltar.
Political instability and governance challenges have
created opportunities that terrorist organizations look to
exploit. In the years following the cease-fire in Libya, the
country's political fragmentation has contributed to internal
instability and has prevented effective security coordination
against shared threats. This fragmentation has allowed ISIS,
Libya, and Al Qaeda to maintain logistical networks to some
degree, though the threat has been greatly diminished when
compared with the previous decade.
And in Egypt, one of the three U.S.-designated major, non-
NATO allies in the region, terrorist groups like ISIS-Sinai
have historically committed violence against government
entities, Coptic Christians, and other civilian targets.
Security gains have been made by joint counterterrorism efforts
in recent years to reduce the threat and prevent mass attacks.
Last month, I was pleased to see the Treasury Department
designate the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood as a Specially
Designated Global Terrorist Group. This designation unlocks
additional tools to combat the illicit financial networks that
have legitimized terrorism and spread the group's influence
globally. I really want to applaud the administration's efforts
to disrupt terror networks that undermine our national
security.
Tunisia, another major non-NATO ally, has seen a
significant reduction in Islamic militant violence since 2006,
which demonstrates improvements in Tunisian security capacity.
At the same time, we know that certain terrorist cells remain
active in border regions, as evidenced by the recent death of a
Tunisian police officer during a counterterrorism operation
along the Algerian border.
Algeria represents both opportunity and challenge. While
Algeria maintains warm relations with Russia and has divergent
foreign policy positions on issues like Israel and Iran,
counterterrorism remains an area of bilateral cooperation.
Lessons can be gleaned from our positive counterterrorism
partnership with Morocco. As a major non-NATO ally since 2004,
Morocco's comprehensive counterterrorism strategy, which
successfully disrupted terrorist cells as recently as this
year, combined enhanced security measures with multilateral
coordination.
North Africa's security gains are evident in that region,
and has not experienced a massive terrorist attack in almost a
decade. While smaller incidents have occurred, the greatest
threat North Africa currently faces is from spillover risk
posed by Sahel-based groups. The Sahel region, including Mali,
Burkina Faso, and Niger, has witnessed the rise of JNIM
(Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin), which has grown into
one of Africa's most potent Islamic terrorist groups. JNIM
evolved from Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, an organization
with Algerian roots that originated from the Islamist
insurgencies of the 1990's, which claimed thousands of lives,
including three U.S. citizens that were killed in a 2013 attack
on an Algerian gas plant.
It is my understanding that this committee will soon
convene a hearing on the Sahel, and I look forward to
continuing this conversation as it relates to those threats.
This hearing provides an opportunity to assess the progress
made to counter threats and also better understand where we go
from here. It has also been over two decades since the global
war on terror started, and it is critical we learn from the
failures, resist mission creep, while also leveraging strategic
programming that bolsters regional security and involves our
partners, our allies, paying their fair share.
The Trump administration has taken decisive action to
reshape the U.S. approach to counterterrorism, eliminate
wasteful spending, and streamline bureaucracy. As the
Department of State realigns its efforts with the
administration's goals, Congress stands ready to work together.
I look forward to hearing from our witnesses and to working
with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to ensure the
American taxpayer dollars are being spent effectively, that our
personnel are positioned for success, and that we are doing
everything necessary to protect the American people from
terrorist threats emanating from North Africa and beyond.
I am now happy to recognize the ranking member of this
committee, Senator Rosen, for her opening remarks.
STATEMENT OF HON. JACKY ROSEN,
U.S. SENATOR FROM NEVADA
Senator Rosen. Well, thank you, Chairman McCormick, and
thank you for you and your staff's cooperation in setting up
the hearings that we have had and the good work that we are
trying to do in this area. This hearing is extremely important,
and I want to say thank you to the witnesses for joining us
today as well.
Because today's hearing is focused on a region that
frequently just does not get enough attention, North Africa,
also known as the Maghreb. Strategically located between Europe
and the Middle East and Sub-Saharan Africa, the countries of
North Africa are important to U.S. national, economic, and
energy security. The region deserves a deeper look at the
immense opportunities as well as the unique challenges it
experiences.
While American attention has strayed from the region in
recent decades, our Nation has a long history of engagement
with North Africa, with Morocco having the longest diplomatic
relations with the U.S. of any other country, now celebrating
250 years of friendship. I was proud to visit Rabat in 2023,
when I led the first-ever bipartisan Senate delegation to the
Abraham Accords countries, and I was struck by the Moroccan
Government's commitment to working with us to counter terrorism
in the region, something I believe we must strongly continue to
invest in.
The current U.S. administration has demonstrated an
interest in the Maghreb, prioritizing peace deals, regional
stability, and trade and economic opportunities. Increased U.S.
attention to the region is welcome, as China and Russia and
Iran have significantly invested in North Africa for more than
a decade, and they have succeeded in making critical inroads.
This is not good.
For today's hearing we will be focused on the critical
importance of counterterrorism efforts in the Maghreb. Since
the height of ISIS, the region has experienced significant,
steady decrease in violent terrorist attacks, in part thanks to
U.S.-supported counterterrorism partnerships and countering
violent extremist programs.
Specifically, the U.S.-support for the Trans-Sahara
Counterterrorism Partnership has played a critical role in
helping countries improve their own capacities in addressing
terrorist threats and preventing the spread of violent
extremism. It is always at their door.
While we see immense progress, there continues to be the
risk of terrorism across the Maghreb. Compounding this is the
terrorist threat from the Sahel, which has become a global
hotspot for terrorism in recent years. It is impossible--
impossible now--to think of the Sahel and North Africa as
completely different regions. They are increasingly connected
through overlapping dynamics that we cannot ignore.
Violent extremists, they do not know any boundaries. They
will take advantage of weak States, they will take advantage of
porous borders, and this could risk the stability of North
Africa, the relative stability they have enjoyed for many
years.
So it is my hope that our witnesses will dive into the
progress that has been achieved in the region and what U.S.
efforts actually helped get us there, and what we need to do to
keep sustaining this. Given the strategic importance of the
Maghreb, it is imperative that we continue to support
counterterrorism partnerships in this region, given what is
happening in the Sahel.
At the same time, we must not be naive that recruitment to
terrorist organizations will, frankly, ever stop, particularly
in light of our foreign assistance cuts and the loss of
expertise at USAID and across the State Department. U.S.-
supported CVE (Countering Violent Extremism) programs have
complemented our CT efforts by preventing the next generation
of extremists. So I hope that we will discuss what the U.S.
plans to do not just to stop terrorism but to prevent it from
emerging.
With that, Mr. Chairman, I look forward to discussing this
topic today. Thank you.
Senator McCormick. Thank you, Senator Rosen. And again,
thanks for all the help getting this hearing up and running. I
look forward to hearing from the insights of our witnesses from
the State Department.
Mr. Robert Palladino is the Senior Bureau Official of Near
Eastern Affairs at the U.S. State Department. He is a career
member of the Senior Foreign Service with extensive experience
addressing critical foreign policy and national security
challenges across Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. Thank you
for being here.
And Lieutenant Colonel Joel Borkert serves as the Deputy
Coordinator for the Bureau of Counterterrorism at the U.S.
State Department, where he heads programs in military
coordination. Prior to this role, he was Chief of Staff of the
U.S. Agency for International Development, USAID, and he is
also a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel and a decorated
combat veteran.
Thank you both for your willingness to serve our country
and for your willingness to testify today.
I would like to remind our witnesses to try and keep your
opening remarks to 5 minutes. Your submitted testimony will be
entered into the record in full.
Mr. Palladino, why don't we start with you.
STATEMENT OF ROBERT J. PALLADINO, SENIOR BUREAU OFFICIAL,
BUREAU OF NEAR EASTERN AFFAIRS, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
WASHINGTON, DC
Mr. Palladino. Good afternoon, Chairman McCormick, Ranking
Member Rosen, and distinguished members of the subcommittee.
Thank you for the invitation to testify here today. It is an
honor, and I look forward to discussing how our
counterterrorism efforts in North Africa advance our broader
U.S. interests in the region.
As the Senior Bureau Official for the Bureau of Near
Eastern Affairs, my team and I work closely with the Bureau of
Counterterrorism to counter terrorist threats across North
Africa and the Middle East. It is through this collaboration
that we are able to advance the President's vision for the
region.
First, NEA seeks to protect American citizens in the region
by providing essential services that safeguard their personal
well-being and commercial interests. Second, our diplomacy is
focused on ensuring Middle Eastern conflicts and regional
security threats do not threaten the United States directly.
Third, we help counter destabilizing mass and illegal
immigration by ensuring travel and migration consistent with
U.S. law. And fourth, we support American businesses as they
pursue opportunities for trade and profitable investment across
the region.
Countering and preventing terrorist threats in North Africa
ensures that we can protect Americans, promote peace, and
secure opportunities for increased American prosperity. We work
closely with the Bureau of Counterterrorism to achieve these
broader administration goals. NEA works with CT and interagency
partners to identify and counter terrorist threats abroad
before they reach our shores, while disrupting and destroying
terrorist operations that target Americans and U.S. economic
interests in the region.
A key driver of NEA's work is to identify capable partners
in the Middle East and North Africa and encourage them to take
increased responsibility both for their own security and the
security of their region. The United States is focusing
resources on immediate threats to the U.S. homeland and
emphasizing burden shifting to capable partners to address
local and regional threats. In this light, we have refocused
our CT relationship with North African countries, with them
taking primary responsibility for regional CT.
In the 2010's, terrorism in North Africa represented a
significant threat to the United States and our interests in
the region. From Morocco to Egypt, terrorist attacks killed
thousands, including Americans. In response, the United States
invested heavily in improving the counterterrorism capacity of
North African partner countries.
As a result of our efforts, many of these countries have
significantly degraded foreign terrorist organizations
operating in their territories.
As a reflection of the region's success in countering
terrorist threats, we seek to encourage States such as Algeria,
Morocco, and Tunisia to become security exporters in the
region. Morocco and Tunisia have benefited from multilateral
military exercises such as Phoenix Express and African Lion,
the largest joint military exercise on the continent, which the
Moroccans and Tunisians have co-hosted for years. Major non-
NATO allies, Morocco and Tunisia have leveraged our deep
security partnerships toward training security personnel from
across Sub-Saharan Africa, on their own dime.
Algeria's counterterrorism successes also make it a
critical pillar of stability in the region.
As the United States shifts our priorities and resources to
the Western Hemisphere and Indo-Pacific regions, as outlined in
the President's National Security Strategy and the State
Department's Agency Strategic Plan, we are counting on North
African States to build on their successes and share their best
practices with neighboring countries that are facing
significant terrorist threats.
For decades, CT has been at the center of many of the
bilateral relationships with North African countries. Thanks to
our productive CT relationship with these countries, we have
partners we can work with to advance a number of the
President's initiatives. A clear example is our work to counter
threats from the Muslim Brotherhood and its violent ideology.
We also look to North African countries to provide critical
support to ensuring terrorist activity in the Sahel does not
spread west to the Gulf of Guinea or north to regain a foothold
in North Africa, where it would present a more immediate threat
to the United States and our interests.
In conclusion, with this committee's support, the Bureau of
Near Eastern Affairs intends to continue working with the
Bureau of Counterterrorism and other bureaus across the State
Department, as well as our interagency and regional partners,
to counter terrorism, to protect the American people, to expand
space for investment that will benefit the American people.
Thank you for your attention, thank you for your leadership
on this topic, and I welcome your questions. Thank you.
[The prepared statement of Mr. Palladino follows:]
Prepared Statement of Robert J. Palladino
Good afternoon, Chairman McCormick, Ranking Member Rosen, and
distinguished members of this subcommittee. Thank you for your
invitation to testify here today. It is an honor, and I look forward to
discussing how our counterterrorism efforts in North Africa help us
advance our broader interests across the region.
As the Senior Bureau Official for the Bureau of Near Eastern
Affairs (NEA), I can attest that we work closely with the Bureau of
Counterterrorism (CT) to counter terrorist threats across the Middle
East and North Africa. It is through this collaboration that we are
able to advance President Trump's vision for the region.
NEA seeks to protect American citizens in the region by providing
essential services that safeguard their personal well-being and
commercial interests. Our diplomacy is focused on ensuring Middle
Eastern conflicts and regional security threats do not threaten the
United States directly. We help counter destabilizing mass and illegal
immigration by ensuring travel and migration consistent with U.S. law.
And we support American businesses as they pursue opportunities for
trade and profitable investment across the region.
Countering and preventing terrorist threats in North Africa ensures
that we can protect Americans, promote peace, and secure opportunities
for increased American prosperity. We work closely with CT to achieve
these broader administration goals. NEA works with CT and interagency
partners to identify and counter terrorist threats abroad before they
reach our shores. Simultaneously we work together to disrupt and
destroy terrorist operations that target our citizens and our economic
interests in the region.
A key driver of NEA's work is to identify capable partners in the
Middle East and North Africa and encourage them to take increased
responsibility both for their own security and the security of their
region. The United States is focusing resources on immediate threats to
the U.S. homeland and emphasizing burden shifting to capable partners
to address local and regional threats. In this light, we have refocused
our CT relationship with North African countries, with them taking
primary responsibility for regional CT.
In the 2010s, terrorism in North Africa represented a significant
threat to the United States and our interests in the region. From
Morocco to Egypt, terrorist attacks killed thousands, including
Americans. In response, the United States invested heavily in improving
the CT capacity of North African partner countries. As a result of our
efforts, many of these countries have significantly degraded Foreign
Terrorist Organizations operating in their territories. For example,
Tunisia has neutralized terrorist cells and prevented potential
attacks, recently foiling a suspected terror plot at a market in
western Tunisia and eliminating a wanted terrorist affiliated with
ISIS. In 2023, when a member of the Tunisian National Guard opened fire
at Africa's largest synagogue in Djerba, killing five, U.S.-trained
Tunisian police officers neutralized the shooter within minutes, saving
the lives of hundreds of visitors present.
As a reflection of the region's success in countering terrorist
threats, we seek to encourage states such as Algeria, Morocco, and
Tunisia to become security exporters in the region. Morocco and Tunisia
have benefitted from multilateral military exercises such as Phoenix
Express and African Lion, the largest joint military exercise on the
continent, which the Moroccans and Tunisians have co-hosted for years.
Major non-NATO allies Morocco and Tunisia have leveraged our deep
security partnerships towards training security personnel from across
Sub-Saharan Africa, on their own dime. The United States is now
successfully encouraging eastern and western Libyan leaders to
integrate their security institutions to address shared terror threats.
This year and for the first time, Libya will host a training location
for AFRICOM's flagship special operations exercise, FLINTLOCK to
enhance interoperability with partners on border security and
counterterrorism operations.
Algeria's CT successes also make it a critical pillar of stability
in the region. African leaders' recognition of Algeria's success in the
CT field is reflected in their designation of the Algerian Head of
State as the African Union's Champion for Preventing and Combating
Terrorism since the role was established in 2017. As the United States
shifts our priorities and resources to the Western Hemisphere and Indo-
Pacific Regions, as outlined in the President's National Security
Strategy and the State Department's Agency Strategic Plan, we are
counting on North African states to build on their successes and share
their best practices with neighboring countries that are facing
significant terrorist threats.
For decades, CT has been at the center of many of the bilateral
relationships with North African countries. Thanks to our productive CT
relationship with these countries, we have partners we can work with to
advance a number of the President's initiatives. A clear example is our
work to counter threats from the Muslim Brotherhood and its violent
ideology. Additionally, we are working with countries across the NEA
region to counter ISIS in Syria, take responsibility for their
nationals in northeast Syria displaced persons camps and detention
facilities, and give the Syrian people a chance to succeed. We also
look to North African countries to provide critical support to ensuring
terrorist activity in the Sahel does not spread west to the Gulf of
Guinea or north to regain a foothold in North Africa where it would
present a more immediate threat to the United States and our interests.
In conclusion, with this committee's support, the Bureau of Near
Eastern Affairs intends to continue working with CT and other bureaus
across the Department, as well as our interagency and regional
partners, to counter terrorism in the region to protect the American
people and expand space for investment opportunities that will benefit
the American people.
Thank you for your attention and leadership on this topic. I
welcome your questions.
Senator McCormick. Thank you.
Colonel.
STATEMENT OF LTC JOEL BORKERT, USA RET., DEPUTY COORDINATOR FOR
PROGRAMS AND MILITARY COORDINATION, BUREAU OF COUNTERTERRORISM,
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, WASHINGTON, DC
Lieutenant Colonel Borkert. Chairman McCormick, Ranking
Member Rosen, and members of the subcommittee. Thank you for
the opportunity to appear before you today. I am extremely
honored to testify before this subcommittee and to be joined by
my colleague from the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs.
I appreciate the chance to discuss the evolving terrorism
landscape in North Africa and how the Department's Bureau of
Counterterrorism is advancing this administration's security
priorities.
Preventing terrorist attacks on the American homeland is
this administration's No. 1 counterterrorism objective, full
stop. Every program, every dollar, every partnership is
measured by the standard, does it make America safer, stronger,
and more prosperous?
Over the past year, guided by the principle of peace
through strength, we have shifted from open-ended capacity
building to targeted and decisive threat prevention. The Bureau
of Counterterrorism plays a central role in shaping,
implementing, and coordinating these efforts across the
Department and the interagency.
Our focus is simple--disrupt terrorist networks, deter
terrorist travel, and prevent threats overseas from becoming
attacks on the U.S. soil. A core pillar of our strategy is
strengthening frontline partners while shifting responsibility
to those whose sovereignty and stability are directly at stake.
Strong partners are force multipliers for American security.
Our assistance prioritizes border and traveler screenings,
watchlisting, real-time information sharing, and
counterterrorist financing, the tools that actually stop
attacks before they reach our homeland.
While the territorial defeat of ISIS during the first Trump
administration significantly degraded the group's capabilities,
instability across the Middle East, Sub-Sahara Africa, and the
Sahel continues to provide space for terrorist networks to
operate. Weak borders, sparsely populated territories, and
ongoing conflicts, including the activities of Iran's terrorist
proxies, fuel radicalization and enable the free movement of
fighters, weapons, and funds. In this environment, our approach
is clear--prevent threats to the homeland forward, streamline
our efforts, and require partners to carry their share of the
fight.
North Africa demonstrates what focused U.S. leadership,
combined with partner ownership, can achieve. Over the past
decade, U.S. support has helped our partners dismantle terror
cells and disrupt attack plots. Just last month, U.S.-trained
Tunisian forces eliminated an ISIS-affiliated cell and
conducted additional operations against terrorist networks. At
the same time, Morocco, having benefited from U.S.-supported
counterterrorism programs, is now exporting security by
training Sub-Saharan gendarmeries using U.S.-provided
curriculum. This is the model we are encouraging across the
region--capable partners leading their own regional security.
Despite these successes, the threat persists. That is why
the Bureau of Counterterrorism continues to focus relentlessly
on three priorities. First, stopping terrorists before they
reach our borders, by strengthening partner screening systems,
expanding travel information sharing, and improving aviation
and border security. Our work with Morocco, including an
aviation security program that resulted in a perfect TSA
assessment at Casablanca International Airport, demonstrates
the effectiveness of this target approach.
Second, we use our counterterrorism designation authorities
to cutoff resources in operational space for terrorist groups.
A recent example of this is our designations of the Muslim
Brotherhood Chapters in Lebanon, Jordan, and Egypt, which
provide critical tools to disrupt terrorists' financing
networks.
And third, we are advancing President Trump's maximum
pressure campaign against Iran by coordinating sanctions,
mobilizing international partners, and countering Iran's
terrorist proxies across the region. And since 2019, 18
governments have taken action against Hezbollah as a direct
result of these efforts.
At the end of the day, our counterterrorism strategy is
simple--homeland security first, precision over permanence, and
allies carrying their share of the burden. We will continue to
focus resources on what works, eliminate ineffective programs,
and partners with capable nations to prevent terrorist threats
before they reach the United States.
Thank you again for the opportunity to appear before you
today. I look forward to your questions.
[The prepared statement of Lieutenant Colonel Borkert
follows:]
Prepared Statement of Lieutenant Colonel Joel Borkert (USA Retired)
Chairman McCormick, Ranking Member Rosen, and members of the
subcommittee, good afternoon. Thank you for inviting me to speak today,
alongside my colleague from the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs.
I appreciate the opportunity to discuss the current terrorism
landscape in North Africa, its impact on U.S. national security, and
how the Department's Bureau of Counterterrorism is advancing the Trump
administration's security priorities. Our work includes supporting key
diplomatic efforts and coordinating closely with partners across the
Department and the broader interagency community.
The Trump administration remains firmly committed to preventing
major attacks on our homeland. We've made significant progress in
strengthening safety and security both here and abroad, guided by the
principle of Peace through Strength.
The Bureau of Counterterrorism plays a central role in shaping,
implementing, and coordinating the administration's counterterrorism
efforts. We're deeply involved in interagency decisions and planning,
and we work with international coalitions to address the evolving
threat of transnational terrorism.
A big part of our mission is to help partner nations-especially
those on the front lines-take effective action against shared terrorist
threats. Our cooperation with these countries directly contributes to
keeping Americans safe. We focus on holding state sponsors of terrorism
accountable, securing our borders, and dismantling terrorist networks
that threaten the United States.
Instability in the Middle East and Sub-Saharan Africa continue to
challenge our partners in North Africa. While the terrorist threat in
the region has decreased since the defeat of ISIS's territorial
caliphate during the first Trump administration, instability in the
Middle East, Sub-Saharan, and West Africa has allowed ISIS and other
groups to persist. Terrorist organizations exploit weak borders and the
vast, sparsely populated areas of the Sahel to move fighters, weapons,
and funds. Security challenges in places like Syria and Gaza, along
with the ongoing activities of Iran's terrorist proxies, further fuel
radicalization and instability in the region.
In this shifting environment, the Bureau of Counterterrorism
remains focused on preventing these threats from reaching our homeland
and on encouraging our partners and allies to take greater
responsibility for their own security and that of their region.
With U.S. support, North African countries have made real progress
against terrorism over the past decade. Our partners often credit our
foreign assistance programs for helping them achieve major law
enforcement successes. For example, just last week, on January 22,
2026, U.S.-trained Tunisian security forces dismantled an ISIS-
affiliated cell in Kasserine [KAS-uh-reen], eliminating all four
members. This followed another successful operation by the Tunisian
Ministry of Interior, which resulted in the death of a member of the
ISIS affiliate Jund al-Khilafa [JOOND al-khi-LAH-fah] and the arrest of
two more suspects. Additionally, having benefitted from training funded
by the Bureau of Counterterrorism, Morocco is now taking ownership of
the counterterrorism threat. Utilizing U.S. Government-provided
curriculum, provided through our programming with Diplomatic Security,
the Moroccans are training Sub-Saharan gendarmeries. As CT programming
decreases in North Africa and countries like Morocco work with their
neighbors to address localized threats, we are encouraging others in
the region to follow Morocco's strong example.
Despite these successes, the threat remains. We support President
Trump's unwavering commitment to protect Americans from terrorism--
whether in North Africa or anywhere else these threats may arise.
Here's how we do that:
First, we work to stop terrorists before they reach our borders. We
help countries strengthen their visa systems, expand information
sharing on travelers of concern, and improve border screening to detect
and deter terrorist travel.
Last year, President Trump emphasized the importance of working
with countries willing to improve information-sharing and identity
management to address both terrorism and public safety risks. Through
CT funded aviation security-focused programming, our Moroccan partners
had a ``perfect'' TSA assessment of the Casablanca International
Airport, which has multiple direct flights to the United States. CT
will continue to engage our partners, providing targeted assistance to
help them share information and screen travelers more effectively.
Second, our designation authorities allow us to cut off resources
to dangerous terrorist groups. Recently, the U.S. Government designated
three Muslim Brotherhood chapters in Lebanon, Jordan, and Egypt as
Foreign Terrorist Organizations or Specially Designated Global
Terrorists. These designations give our federal partners new tools to
counter terrorist activity and financing, constrain terrorist networks,
and encourage behavior that advances U.S. national security interests.
Third, in line with President Trump's restoration of the Maximum
Pressure Campaign on Iran, the Bureau is directing sanctions and other
countermeasures, leading international initiatives, and mobilizing
partners against the threat posed by Iran and its proxies. These
efforts are making a difference. For example, the EU designated the
IRGC as a terrorist organization last week. Paraguay became the first
country in South America to designate the IRGC as a terrorist
organization last year and expanded its designation of Hizballah. Since
2019, eighteen governments have taken action to ban, sanction, or
restrict Hizballah, thanks to our efforts. We continue to work with
North African countries to counter the threat from Iran and its
proxies.
The Trump administration has made it clear that counterterrorism
will remain a top priority to keep our homeland safe. We will continue
to work in a focused and targeted way, alongside partners who share our
commitment to countering terrorist threats. North Africa is home to
many capable and increasingly self-reliant partners, and we will keep
working with them to identify and neutralize threats to U.S. interests
and our shared security.
Thank you again, Chairman McCormick and Ranking Member Rosen, for
the opportunity to be here. I look forward to your questions.
Senator McCormick. Thank you both for your testimony.
At this point we are going to do the question-and-answer
section. I will start with 5 minutes of questions, then Senator
Rosen, and then we will go back and forth. And we have a number
of Senators that are going to be stopping by, so we may move
things around a bit to make sure everybody gets to ask their
questions.
So, I will start with you, Mr. Borkert. What is the current
status of the State Department's CT programming in the region,
and how does it align with the administration's approach to
counterterrorism?
Lieutenant Colonel Borkert. Yes, thank you for that
question, Senator. Right now we have roughly about $34 million
of ongoing programs. They are primarily focused on aviation
security, crisis response, border security, and
counterterrorist funding. This is aligned with this
administration as it really is focused on protecting the
homeland first. So that is our No. 1 objective, and that is
really what our programs that we are investing in currently aim
to do.
Senator McCormick. If you look at the partnerships, in
particular those with Morocco, Tunisia, and Egypt as examples,
what are cases where this positive counterterrorism partnership
has yielded real results? Can you point out some specific
examples?
Lieutenant Colonel Borkert. Yes, Senator, I can. Thank you
for that question. I think when it comes to Morocco we see that
they are becoming a net exporter of counterterrorist
capability, particularly because of some of the training that
they have been doing in the Sahel. If you look at Egypt, they
have a Counterterrorism Training Center focused on counter-
IEDs, and they have also been training African partners in
order to be able to do that.
On Tunisia, the example I stated in my opening testimony,
they have curriculum that they have been able to provide
assistance again to African countries to their south.
Senator McCormick. Thank you. And Mr. Palladino, in what
ways has the CT programming helped preserve space and access
for diplomacy in countries like Algeria and Tunisia during
these periods of internal instability?
Mr. Palladino. Thank you, Senator. That is an important
question. Finding areas on which we have common ground and
finding areas in which we can cooperate together, despite other
differences and views, is essential to advancing American
interests. So the way we approach our diplomacy is done in a
way in which we seek to emphasize what do we share in common
and what goals are we trying to achieve together.
Counterterrorism has proven to be extremely reliable in North
Africa. It is something that we find eager partners willing to
work with us. Thank you.
Senator McCormick. And I want to ask a specific question
about Egypt. Mr. Palladino, while Egypt has experienced a
general decline in violent terrorist actions over the last
decade, they still face numerous threats such as ISIS-Sinai,
instability in Libya, conflict in Sudan. How is Egypt managing
these threats, and how are we supporting those efforts?
Mr. Palladino. Thank you, Senator. Well, as you mentioned,
they have largely defeated the ISIL Sinai Peninsula group,
formerly known as ABM, as well as Harakat Sawa'd Misr and Al
Qaeda affiliated groups. They, before we did, designated the
Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization, and they
welcome our designation as well as validation of their longtime
determination that the Muslim Brotherhood promotes extremism
and destabilization that threatens our security and
sovereignty.
They have been strong partners in that regard. They have
also built the Sahel and Sahara Counter-Terrorism Centre in
Cairo. That is promoting and countering intelligence sharing.
That has been effective by our estimation. And they are doing
their part, as well, to take on more of the burden sharing
necessary to combat terrorist in the Sahel. Thank you.
Senator McCormick. Very good. Thank you.
Senator Rosen.
Senator Rosen. Thank you. I want to followup on your
question here on the CT strategy in the Maghreb. To both Mr.
Borkert and Mr. Palladino, it is my understanding that the
Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership, this program is
still being implement in the Maghreb. But I have concerns about
how it is being implemented, given the significant changes that
have taken place at State over the past year.
So we will start with Mr. Palladino and go over to Mr.
Borkert. Where does the TSCTP--that's a mouthful--now sit
within the State Department, and what bureau or office now
serves as the lead implementer of the partnership and how do
other bureaus and offices within the State Department
coordinate to execute the program?
Whoever wants to go first is fine.
Lieutenant Colonel Borkert. Senator, thank you for that
question. I will need to go back specifically to dig deeper
into the TSCTP specifically. You know, the CT bureau does lead
when it comes to counterterrorism. We do have focus programs
within that region that, again, are focusing on things like
strong border screening, modern watchlisting, real-time
information sharing, counterterrorist financing. Those are the
efforts that we have focused our efforts on in the Maghreb.
Senator Rosen. I will have my team reach out to get that
information. Thank you.
Lieutenant Colonel Borkert. Thank you.
Senator Rosen. So we are going to move on to countering
violent extremism. To Mr. Borkert, poverty and lack of
opportunity are some of the biggest drivers of violence and
extremism in North Africa and around the globe. Yet, as a
senior political appointee at USAID you played a role in
terminating programs that tried to address these challenges,
including those focused on countering violent extremism.
At State we have seen the closure of the Bureau of Conflict
Stabilization operation and layoffs in the CT, INL, and other
bureaus and offices, as well as cancellation of public
diplomacy programs proven to counter terrorist recruitment
efforts. These types of vital programs, they target the root
causes of extremism and prevent vulnerable populations from
being recruited by terrorist organizations.
Mr. Borkert, are CT or any other aid bureaus currently
implementing any CVE programming in the region, and if so, do
you have staff with the requisite expertise not only to design
the CVE programs but also to monitor and evaluate their
implementation. And then, Mr. Palladino, if you have something
to add after that.
Lieutenant Colonel Borkert. Yes, thank you for that
question, Senator. We did go through a reorganization, and we
did close the CVE office. However, through the assessment
process we have realized, or we have retained the capability to
continue to monitor risk in that area, both when it comes to
the counterterrorism risk, and then I would say some of the
root drivers of that risk.
Senator Rosen. So let me ask you this question then.
Lieutenant Colonel Borkert. Yes.
Senator Rosen. If you are closing that and you are just
kind of monitoring, I have real concerns, serious concerns we
are focused only on addressing current CT threats and not
thinking about preventing future threats. We are not being
proactive. So do you think your respective bureaus have a role
to play in supporting these efforts to address socioeconomic,
governance, and developmental challenges in the Maghreb and
beyond in order to prevent emerging CT threats?
Lieutenant Colonel Borkert. Yes. Our focus is on America
First foreign assistance, as Secretary Rubio announced last
year. So all of our foreign assistance and our security
assistance is focused on protecting the homeland. We believe,
particularly in the area of North Africa, that it is important
that our partners in the region take on more responsibility,
particularly in this space.
Senator Rosen. So do you think that we are not going to--if
they know we are not watching the threats are still going to be
there. So I think that you are taking your eye off the ball.
Mr. Palladino, do you have something to add here?
Mr. Palladino. I would just add that--thank you, Senator--I
would add, you mentioned public diplomacy. We still maintain
robust public diplomacy assets in North Africa that are active
and are amplifying both U.S. messages and running the exchange
programs. Those are operations that continue, and that we will
continue to do.
Further, I would just add that my bureau and the
Counterterrorism Bureau, we are meeting regularly and
exchanging views and information, and the coordination is
strong, and that is something that we will also continue to do.
Thank you.
Senator Rosen. Thank you. I yield.
Senator McCormick. Thank you. All right with you, Senator
Scott, to move to Senator Cruz?
Senator Scott of Florida. Yep.
Senator McCormick. OK, Senator Cruz.
Senator Scott of Florida. Oh, did you want to go?
Senator McCormick. I am sorry. He has a tight timeline.
Senator Scott of Florida. That is fine.
Senator McCormick. Would that be OK with you? OK. Senator
Cruz, go ahead.
Senator Cruz. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate it,
Senator Scott.
Mr. Palladino, thank you for being here and testifying this
afternoon. I would like to ask you about the specifics of your
testimony, and specifically two things you said in your written
testimony back to back. You said that, quote, ``Algeria's
counterterrorism successes also make it a critical pillar of
stability in the region.'' Then, in the very next paragraph,
you said, again I am quoting, ``We look to North African
countries to provide critical support to ensuring terrorist
activity in the Sahel does not spread.''
Now, I am assuming that that somewhat opaque reference to
terrorist activity in the Sahel is about the Polisario Front,
though you did not name the group. Iran is trying to turn the
Polisario Front into the Houthis for West Africa, a proxy force
capable of waging war, to threaten regional stability, and
pressure U.S. partners whenever Iran wants leverage. The
Polisario Front works with Iranian terrorist groups, it takes
drones from the IRGC, it moves weapons and resources around the
region, including to Jihadists, and much more.
I believe they should be designated as a terrorist group,
and I have drafted a bill to do so if there is no change in
their behavior.
Before getting to any other questions, is that what you
meant by, quote, ``terrorist activity in the Sahel''? Were you
talking about the Polisario Front?
Mr. Palladino. It is an important question, Senator. Thank
you. What I was referring to, well, what I would say in regards
to the Polisario is President Trump has made clear his desire
to achieve a lasting resolution to the problem in the Western
Sahara, to that dispute. And as part of that, American policy
currently is we are engaging all parties, and we are going to
continue to pursue that for a lasting resolution, and we seek
that because if we can get to that resolution that is going to
be our best shot at advancing peace and security, which will
prevent further terrorist activity.
Now, you mentioned designation, Senator, and I would just
add we are constantly assessing threats to the American
homeland, and we have a process for that. It is something that
we will continue to look at, and as the Secretary said, if we
proceed that will be grounded in the process and the evidence
and the law. Thank you, Senator.
Senator Cruz. I see that the opacity I referenced was not
accidental but was, in fact, deliberate, because in the full
course of that answer there was no direct indication that, yes,
the terrorist activity in the Sahel is coming from the
Polisario Front, and that is a significant blind spot in our
counterterrorism posture. Do you assess, right now, that the
Polisario Front poses a threat to U.S. interests in any sense,
and if so, in what sense?
Mr. Palladino. Senator, thank you, Senator. We are actively
engaging all parties in the Western Sahara dispute in the
interest of achieving a lasting and durable peace. That is the
policy of the President. And we are seeking more time to
continue to find a way to find common ground and to come to an
agreement to stabilize the situation and allow there to be
prosperity to follow, based upon stability.
Senator Cruz. Well, I will say that answer was positively
Shakespearean. It was full of sound and fury, and yet
signifying nothing. And, by the way, I will say in terms of the
President, I feel confident I have spent a lot more time with
the President than you have, and he does not have any
difficulty at all calling terrorists what they are.
Mr. Borkert, let's see if we do any better with you. Iran
has trained fighters from the Polisario Front and Hezbollah has
provided them with weapons. In your written testimony you said
that your bureau is working with North African countries to
counter the threat from Iran and its proxies, and you
specifically talked about groups tied to the IRGC and
Hezbollah. You, likewise, did not specifically mention the
Polisario Front.
First of all, same question to you. When you talk about the
threat posed to North African countries by Iran and its
proxies, does that include the Polisario Front?
Lieutenant Colonel Borkert. Senator, thank you for that
question. We continue to monitor activities throughout North
Africa. We continue to see if the IRGC and Hezbollah are, you
know, their activities in that region and globally. And as we
look at these activities we will work with our partner
countries in order to counter those threats and, where
possible, designate or encourage those countries to designate
the IRGC, Hezbollah, and those terrorist groups.
Senator Cruz. So I have to say, it seems to me you turned
to your colleague and said, ``Hold my beer.''
Let me just ask a final question to both of you. Were both
of you instructed in this testimony not to say anything
negative about the Polisario Front, because it sure seems like
you were.
Mr. Palladino. Senator, I am just trying to explain what we
are trying to do, policy-wise.
Senator Cruz. That is a yes-or-no question.
Mr. Palladino. No, I received no instructions to that
effect, Senator.
Lieutenant Colonel Borkert. Senator, I have received no
instructions to those effects either.
Senator Cruz. So you just decided to go down that road for
the heck of it. OK. Thank you.
Senator McCormick. Senator Shaheen.
Senator Shaheen. Thank you, Mr. Chairman and Ranking Member
Rosen, for holding this hearing, and Senator Murphy for giving
me the opportunity to go ahead of him so I can get to another
hearing. And thank you both for being here.
As you pointed out, and the questions have indicated, we
face critical issues in North Africa, including terrorism
threats. This committee has moved the President's nominees to
Morocco and Tunisia, who are now serving in those roles as
Ambassadors. However, three of the five North Africa posts
remain vacant. What is worse, while the Senate confirmed those
nominees, both male political nominees, the administration
recalled the two female career Ambassadors to Algeria and
Egypt. Maybe they thought that was DEI because they were women.
I do not know. But they are career Ambassadors, like you, who
have dedicated their careers to nonpartisan service for our
country.
So I fail to see how recalling experienced career
Ambassadors, when there are not others ready to take their
place, is in our interest. I think it is in America's interest
to have confirmed Ambassadors in every country around the
world, and right now we are falling behind China dramatically.
So can you both talk about the benefits of having confirmed
Ambassadors in place to address serious issues like
counterterrorism? Mr. Palladino, do you want to go first?
Mr. Palladino. Thank you, Senator. That is an important
question, and we do want to have the administration's team on
the field, and be fully represented. I appreciate the
cooperation----
Senator Shaheen. I am sorry to interrupt, but do you not
consider career ambassadors part of the President's team, no
matter who the President is?
Mr. Palladino. Senator, you referenced some specific
Ambassadors being recalled, and that is something that happens
between administrations. And that is kind of the way the
Foreign Service has worked often in the past. It is kind of the
normal course of nature. And when that happens----
Senator Shaheen. Well, Mr. Palladino, that is just not
correct. I have been here for 18 years now. I have been on this
committee for almost 18 years, and I have seen Ambassadors come
and go. And what I have seen is that career Ambassadors are
generally left in place until they are replaced by another
nominee or another career Ambassador. So don't tell me that
that is the normal course of events, because I know it is not.
And the fact is, when we do not have confirmed Ambassadors on
the ground, America's interests suffer. And I do not care how
you can try and defend the fact that we do not have people on
the ground, but we do not, and America's interests are
suffering.
I want to move on, because Algeria has been an important
U.S. counterterrorism partner. They have seemed to be willing
to turn away from Russia and toward the United States, not only
in economic ties but on military ties. But public reporting
currently suggests that the Algerian Government has purchased
Russian fighter aircraft, and it is in talks to purchase even
more because it would take too long to get American planes
delivered.
So can you speak--this may be for you, Mr. Borkert, but I
am not sure. Maybe it is for you, Mr. Palladino. What is the
administration's thinking on CAATSA sanctions if Algeria does
order a number of planes from Russia?
Mr. Palladino. Thank you, Senator. We also have seen those
media reports, and they are concerning. I would say that the
Department of State is committed to upholding the Countering
America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act. And with
transactions like those that you have described, they may
trigger that determination. This is something that we will
watch closely. And we could speak more offline, perhaps in a
classified setting, in greater detail on the underlying
content.
Senator Shaheen. Well, can we talk about what we might be
able to do to disincentivize Russia-Algeria cooperation on
military purchases like those planes?
Mr. Palladino. We work closely with the Government in
Algeria on issues where we find common ground. We certainly do
not agree on many things, and this would be an example where
the United States would have a problem.
We approach the leadership and the governments as we find
them, and we use the leverage that we have, often in private,
diplomatically, to advance our interests and stop behavior
which is not acceptable.
Senator Shaheen. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Senator McCormick. Thank you. Senator Scott.
Senator Scott of Florida. I want to thank the Chairman and
ranking member for this important hearing. I want to thank you
for being here.
The United States is constantly facing threats from around
the world that is evil. Extremist groups seek to destroy our
way of life, such as the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara
and in the West African provinces and across North Africa.
These groups have evolved into cross-border terrorist networks,
known for exploiting weak governance, ungoverned spaces, and
security vacuums. Meanwhile, Russian-backed Wagner mercenaries
are rapidly increasing their presence, and these terrorist
groups are spreading south toward Coastal West Africa and north
toward the Mediterranean, intersecting with migration smuggling
routes that directly affect European and ultimately our
security and economic interests.
For each of you, which of our partners in Europe and Africa
have engaged in this issue, successfully delivered measurable
security improvements, and earned the trust of local
communities, and how should we support these efforts, if you
can talk about some of them. And if each of you would answer.
Lieutenant Colonel Borkert. Yes, Senator. Thank you for
that question. Sticking with our North African partners, I
would highlight Morocco. They have been an excellent partner, I
think, as we have discussed here. They are starting to export
their capability to the countries of the Sahel, which we have
concern about. And I think they have concern about, too,
because that immediately impacts their region. I would also
highlight Tunisia. Tunisia, based off the support that we have
provided them, they have engaged and have been constructive
partners in the Sahel.
And Algeria, of course, has always had a strong capability,
and they do an excellent job of securing their border. And even
in Libya, where there is some ungoverned space in the south, we
have seen a lot of our programming being able to help them out.
And both groups there have taken counterterrorism seriously and
have done a good job of pushing most of the ISIS out of the
main populated areas. And then, of course, Egypt has been a
strong partner, and we have already highlighted what they have
done with their Counterterrorism Training Center.
So I would say most of the countries across North Africa
are an excellent example of what partner and burden shifting
looks like, and we are appreciative of what they are doing.
Senator Scott of Florida. And so you did not address
Europe. So you would say Europe is not doing anything?
Lieutenant Colonel Borkert. Senator, I need to go back just
to make sure. We are consistently engaging Europe. They have
been constructive in the D-ISIS Coalition. But again, we
consistently talk to our European partners.
Senator Scott of Florida. It sounds like they are partners.
That is OK.
Lieutenant Colonel Borkert. Thank you.
Senator Scott of Florida. Mr. Palladino.
Mr. Palladino. Thank you, Senator. I would concur with
everything my colleague has said. Morocco is a major non-NATO
ally, signatory of the Abraham Accords. Their counterterrorism
capabilities, their training programs, their intelligence
cooperation----
Senator Scott of Florida. Let me just interrupt. Has Europe
done anything? Do you have anything you can say Europe has
done?
Mr. Palladino [continuing]. What I would say is Italy, for
example, is very involved in assisting and preventing illegal
migration, and efforts that the United States is able to do in
North Africa, that creates space for Italy to do more.
Senator Scott of Florida. Let me ask both of you, what
would you say strategic success in counterterrorism in North
Africa looks like over the next 3 years? What would success be?
Lieutenant Colonel Borkert. Sir, I would say success over
the next 3 years is we do not see a major attack emanating on
the America homeland or our interests abroad. And then, more
specifically to our programs, that we would see that most of
the programs that we have there are successfully complete, that
our partner nations can actually carry out those programs on
their own, that the objectives that we had established to begin
with are achieved, that there is clear return on investment to
the United States, and that these countries can continue to
sustain the ability to conduct counterterrorism.
Senator Scott of Florida. I will just finish. I met today
with the Ambassador that was let go in the Philippines. The
Philippines is a strategic ally. She was a career, and she is a
wonderful person. I think we really do have to put a lot of
effort into making sure that we continue to support our
relationship with the Philippines. I think it starts with we
have got to really look at our tariff rate with them and see if
it is appropriate, which when I looked at it, it did not seem
very appropriate. But it is a strategic ally in that part of
the world, and I hope we will put a lot of effort into it.
Thanks, both of you.
Senator McCormick. Senator Murphy.
Senator Murphy. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Thank
you to our witnesses.
Listen, my worry is that the underlying purpose of our
policy in the Middle East today is not to counter terrorism,
not to protect U.S. interests in the region, but to make the
President rich. And I do think we need to talk about this
today, because over the weekend it was revealed that a few days
before the election the President of the United States struck a
secret deal with the United Arab Emirates, companies controlled
by senior officials in the United Arab Emirates, to buy a 47
percent stake in one of the companies owned by the Trump family
and the Witkoff family, with payouts of at least $187 million
to the Trump family by the Emiratis, and at least $30 million
to the Witkoff family.
This is a stunning revelation. We have never, ever, seen
anything like this before. And I want to understand to what
degree the bureau is integrated or independent from this kind
of corruption. It is corruption. That is what it is. So just a
simple question, Mr. Palladino, were you aware? You were the
director of, essentially, you are the acting director of the
bureau. Were you aware that the United Arab Emirates had made
this secret investment in the President's cryptocurrency
company, or did you find out about it over the weekend like the
rest of us?
Mr. Palladino. Senator, I was not aware, and any further
information about that I would need to refer to the White House
for a response.
Senator Murphy. Out in the open, a few months ago,
similarly, companies controlled by senior government officials
in the UAE financed a $2 billion investment in the
cryptocurrency company Binance, with President Trump's crypto
coin, almost overnight, making it one of the most valuable
coins in the market. Were you aware of the negotiations
happening between the Trump family and the UAE that led to that
$2 billion purchase using the President's crypto coin?
Mr. Palladino. Senator, I am focused on the personnel of
the State Department and our deployment to the field and the
policies that we are asking.
Senator Murphy. Were you aware--but my question is
specific. And listen, I know you are not carrying out this
corruption. But were you aware of the talks regarding that
investment, or involved in them in any way?
Mr. Palladino. Senator, I do not have any facts, one way or
the other, regarding the premise of your question, other than
things that are in the newspaper.
Senator Murphy. These are just yes-or-no questions, just to
get a sense of what your responsibilities are when it comes to
your personal financial affairs. Yes or no, as a career member
of the Senior Foreign Service overseeing our diplomatic
engagement in the Middle East, is it permitted for you to use
your public office for your own private gain?
Mr. Palladino. No.
Senator Murphy. Are you prohibited by statute from taking
official action that would have a direct and predictable effect
on your financial interests?
Mr. Palladino. I am.
Senator Murphy. You are. And your most recent posting was
in Hungary. Yes or no, if you owned a private company in the
United States would it be legal for that private company that
you owned to accept investments from a Hungarian Government
official?
Mr. Palladino. I don't believe so.
Senator Murphy. That is the right answer. It would not be.
Why do we have these laws on the books that restrict you,
as a senior member of the State Department, from intermingling
your official actions with your private affairs? What is your
understanding of the importance of those laws and restrictions?
Mr. Palladino. The laws and restrictions are passed by the
U.S. Congress to ensure that those who are serving the Nation--
have signed up to serve in the executive branch--are faithfully
carrying out the United States Constitution and doing so in a
way that serves the American people.
Senator Murphy. Thank you for that straightforward answer.
Obviously, it was stunning, to this committee and to the
public, to find out that the President had accepted an
investment from a foreign government that is directly
intertwined with our fight against counterterrorism, and then
to also find out that months later he had gifted that country
with an exceptional transfer of sensitive chip technology was
even more stunning.
We have these laws on the books for a reason, because we do
not believe that you can carry out your duties on behalf of the
American people if you are making money off of your position.
And it stands to reason that it should matter to this
committee, and to this subcommittee, that the President of the
United States is not obeying the same ethical rules that you
and your colleagues are subject to. I would hope that this
would be a subject that the full committee would take up. It is
just as important as the subject matter of this committee
hearing.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Senator McCormick. Senator Rosen.
Senator Rosen. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I want to build on,
quickly, just make a statement, what Senator Scott said, and
now Senator Murphy, because Mr. Borkert, you said earlier, we
want to be clear that we are going to focus on return on
investment to the U.S. in regards to counterterrorism. I would
argue, based on both of my colleagues' comments and questions
that our return on investment is not financial but protecting
American lives.
I am going to move on now and talk about interconnectedness
in the region. The Maghreb and the Sahel, increasingly
connected by overlapping security dynamics. In Libya, the
Islamic State once exerted territorial and governance control
at a scale surpassed only by what it had achieved in Iraq and
Syria. While public reporting indicates our presence in Libya
has decreased, ISIS affiliates have established strong
footholds throughout the Sahel, armed, in large part, with
small arms trafficked through Libya.
While we must celebrate the CT successes we have had in
North Africa, we cannot be naive--again, think about protecting
the homeland, you cannot leave holes in the fences for
terrorists to run through. So we cannot be naive that what is
happening in the Sahel will stay there.
I know we do not have a representative from the Africa
Bureau here today, but Mr. Palladino, how do you see NEA
working with AF to develop a coordinated response to address
extremism and instability that spans the Maghreb and the Sahel?
Mr. Palladino. Thank you, Senator. You mentioned, Libya,
and Libya is within our purview. And I think you are right to
point out that political fragmentation there does create the
opportunity for increased risk that could pour out and pour
from there. So for Libya we are very much focused on regularly
speaking to leaders in both the east and west, and encouraging
the Libyans to overcome divisions and to unify institutions and
to focus on common interests in a way that is going to promote
greater stability and greater peace. Those are the conditions
that are going to create a more prosperous Libya and a Libya
that is able to better police its own borders. So we are
pleased at some of the progress that has been made, and, of
course, there is much more work to be done.
Senator Rosen. So then you would agree we should start
thinking about CT threats in the Maghreb and Sahel in a more
holistic manner. So, Mr. Borkert, what might that look like in
practice, if we should and do think about these areas in a more
holistic way?
Lieutenant Colonel Borkert. Yes, Senator, thank you for
that question. And I agree. I think we do need to look at these
in a holistic way, and we do at the Department of State. I
think one advantage for the Bureau of Counterterrorism, as a
functional bureau, we discuss and talk a lot with all the
regional bureaus. So my colleague right here, Mr. Palladino, we
talk real closely with NEA, but at the same time we are in
constant dialog with the
Africa Bureau. I was in Nigeria with some Africa Bureau
colleagues just a few weeks ago. I have routine conversations
with the Africa Bureau, and we are looking at these from a
holistic perspective.
One of the things that we are looking at in the Sahel is
how do we have and maintain good situational understanding
across that region? How do we work together in a more
comprehensive way when it comes to information sharing with our
regional partners, in order to understand those threats and to
be able to combat any type of threat that might be emanating
from the Sahel.
So I would say, again, from the Counterterrorism Bureau
perspective, we are that linkage between NEA and AF, and I
think we are doing a successful job of looking at it in a more
strategic way.
Senator Rosen. I have one last short question, but before
that, just a yes or no. Would you agree that America First
requires and actually demands us to pay strong attention and
think forward, be forward thinking about the challenges ahead
of us around the world, and that would be the best way that we
protect the homeland?
Lieutenant Colonel Borkert. Senator, yes, I would agree.
America First policy does think strategically with the
objective of the American homeland being protected first. And
we do that around the globe by working with our partners to
ensure that they are carrying their fair share.
Senator Rosen. Let's hope so. My last question is about
Tunisia backsliding. Senator Scott, again, talking about the
region. Mr. Palladino, Tunisia's Government, under President
Saied, is taking a concerning turn, to say the least, through
consolidation and control over State institutions and
significant human rights violations. At the same time, Tunisia,
of course, is a reliable security partner in the fight against
violent extremism.
Do you think Tunisia can continue to be a reliable security
partner while Saied continues to crack down on the Tunisian
people and what remains of Tunisia's democratic institutions?
Mr. Palladino. Thank you, Senator. For the President and
for Secretary Rubio, we have been clear that U.S. foreign
policy must be focused on making America safer, stronger, more
prosperous. And that means we have to seek opportunities for
greater burden sharing by our partners, for their own security.
When dealing with Tunisia, this is the strategic approach that
guides our interactions with Tunisia.
Now, our security assistance is not an endorsement of
political decisions being made in that country, but it is a
tool to protect American interests. What we find in Tunisia,
there are things that we can work with. Like the Tunisian Armed
Forces, they are professional, they are apolitical, and they
are one of the most trusted institutions in Tunisia.
We have something to work with, and there is room for
improvement, but at the same time we need to stay focused on
core American interests and deal with the facts on the ground
as we find them.
Senator Rosen. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It has been a great hearing. I
yield.
Senator McCormick. Thank you, Senator Rosen. And we will
conclude with a question for each of you, and then we will
bring the hearing to an end.
Mr. Borkert, I will start with you. Thank you. Thank you,
Senator. Thanks for putting this together.
Senator Rosen. Thank you. I appreciate it.
Senator McCormick. With ongoing counter-ISIS efforts in
Syria and Iraq, what are you doing to ensure ISIS does not
reconstitute somewhere else in the Sinai?
Lieutenant Colonel Borkert. Senator, yes, thank you for
that question. I would say when it comes to ensuring that it
does not reconstitute, particularly in North Africa, we
continue to diplomatically engage to ensure that there is
strong sustainability of their CT programs, and we are
consistently monitoring and assessing the threat, and we are
poised to rapidly and efficiently respond to risks to our
interests in the region, as needed.
You know, I think there is obviously concern when it comes
to the detainees that are in Northeast Syria, and we do have
robust programs as we encourage countries across the Maghreb to
take their detainees back, to ensure that they are prosecuted,
and then also rehabilitated if they plan on, you know, if they
need to be released. So I would point to those two things to
show that we are poised in trying to prevent any type of ISIS
resurgence across that region.
Senator McCormick. Thank you. Mr. Palladino, does the U.S.
believe Algeria's security cooperation with Russia enhances or
undermines our regional efforts to combat ISIS and Al Qaeda
affiliates?
Mr. Palladino. Senator, any time our partners are
cooperating with strategic adversaries, that is something that
we seek to dissuade them from doing. And whether it is China or
Russia, these are things that we need to push back on
vigorously, and we need to constantly work to find ways to
protect the American people and ensure that our sovereignty is
protected. And that is something we will continue to do. Thank
you.
Senator McCormick. Very good. Thank you. A sincere thank
you to both of you for attending today and providing us with
the benefit of your testimony.
For the information of members, the record will remain open
until the close of business tomorrow, and for you as witnesses,
we ask you to respond as promptly as possible to the questions
you are asked, that you did not have answers to. Your responses
will be made part of the record.
With the thanks of the committee, this hearing is now
adjourned.
[Whereupon, at 4:10 p.m., the hearing was adjourned.]
----------
Additional Material Submitted for the Record
Responses to Additional Questions for the Record Submitted
to Robert J. Palladino by Senator Cory A. Booker
Impact of Ambassadorial Vacancies on U.S. Objectives in Africa
During the hearing, Senator Shaheen highlighted concerns
regarding the recall of career ambassadors from Africa and
ambassadorial vacancies in key African nations, and their
impact on achieving U.S. objectives in the region, including
counterterrorism. I share these concerns.
Question. In countries without a confirmed U.S. ambassador,
diplomatic influence can be limited, and the U.S. may not be fully ``at
the table'' in high-level discussions. What steps has the
administration taken, or plans to take over the next 12 months, to
mitigate the impact of ambassadorial vacancies and sustain high-level
engagement in North Africa?
Answer. The Department has full confidence in the leadership of our
embassies abroad. We will continue to sustain high-level engagement
across North Africa, both in Washington and in capitals overseas. In
January, senior Department officials traveled to Algeria and Egypt,
where they met with the leadership of both countries--including the
respective presidents and foreign ministers--to advance the
Department's objectives and strengthen the bilateral relationships.
Through these engagements, we will continue to advance the
administration's priorities in the region.
Prevention of ISIS Reconstitution in the Sinai
During the hearing, you shared that the State Department is
engaging diplomatically with regional partners, monitoring ISIS--
related activity, and taking action as needed to prevent ISIS from
reconstituting in the Sinai.
Question. What specific diplomatic engagements is the State
Department undertaking with regional partners to prevent ISIS from
reconstituting in the Sinai?
Answer. The Department is engaging regional partners to monitor and
degrade ISIS activity where it presents a threat to the U.S. homeland
or our interests. Diplomatically, the Department engages partners in
the region via United States participation in the Global Coalition to
Defeat ISIS. The United States also has strong diplomatic engagement
with Egypt on counterterrorism, and the two countries are particularly
focused on building upon Egypt's strong counterterrorism response to
ISIL-Sinai Province. We have a shared interest in ensuring the group
cannot expand and threaten to the United States. Finally, since ISIL-
Sinai Province is a U.S.-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization, the
Department will continue to leverage the tools at its disposal to
target ISIL-Sinai Province's financial network to counter the group's
terrorist activity.
Question. What mechanism does the State Department use to monitor
ISIS-related activity in the Sinai, including coordination with U.S.
interagency partners and regional governments?
Answer. The Department is constantly monitoring ISIS-related
activity in the Sinai to identify and respond to threats the group
poses to the United States and our interests abroad. The Department
works closely with interagency partners to ensure the United States
takes a whole-of-government approach to monitoring terrorist threats,
including in the Sinai. The Department also works with Egypt and
countries in the region to identify threats from ISIL-Sinai Province
(formerly known as Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis, ABM), Harakat Sawa'd Misr
(HASM), and al-Qa'ida-affiliated groups.
Question. What actions is the State Department taking in response
to indications that ISIS is attempting to reconstitute in the Sinai?
Answer. The Department actively works with the interagency and
regional partners, particularly Egypt, to respond to terrorist threats
in the Sinai. Egypt's counterterrorism forces have significantly
degraded ISIL-Sinai Province's operational capacity, and the Department
supports Egypt's efforts to ensure the group does not regain a foothold
in the Sinai. The Department will continue to use the counterterrorism
tools at its disposal to respond to any threats from ISIL-Sinai
Province. For example, the Department has an active counter-improvised
explosive device (C-IED) and border security program with Egypt. The
program will ensure that Egypt is prepared to efficiently respond to
terrorist threats and ensure its security, including in the Sinai.
Question. What targeted actions is the administration taking, or
prepared to take, to mitigate the strategic impact of Algeria's
expanding security cooperation with Russia, particularly as it relates
to counterterrorism?
Answer. The United States and Algeria have a standing
counterterrorism relationship. Current U.S. counterterrorism assistance
is focused on countering terrorist financing and ensuring Algeria can
meet the Financial Action Task Force's benchmarks on countering money
laundering and countering terrorist financing. Additionally, the United
States and Algeria are continuously working to improve information
sharing to identify and neutralize terrorist threats. Algeria's
counterterrorism apparatus remains formidable. The United States will
sustain senior-level engagement to facilitate deepening defense
cooperation while encouraging Algeria's diversification away from
Russian military systems.
__________
Responses to Additional Questions for the Record Submitted
to LTC Joel Borkert, USA Ret., by Senator Cory A. Booker
Question. How does the administration assess the overall
effectiveness of U.S. counterterrorism cooperation with Morocco in
advancing U.S. security objectives?
Answer. The administration assesses U.S. counterterrorism
cooperation with Morocco as highly effective in advancing U.S. security
objectives. Morocco is one of our most capable counterterrorism
partners in Africa and the NEA region whose efforts have helped thwart
attacks on American soil and curb ISIS-aligned terrorist groups.
Morocco is a Major Non-NATO Ally that occupies an important
geopolitical position at the crossroads of North Africa and Europe. Our
partnership encompasses nearly every U.S. security interest in the
region and remains critical to advancing our shared priorities. This
collaboration exemplifies the kind of focused, results-driven
cooperation that makes America safer.
Question. What are Morocco's primary counterterrorism contributions
that directly support U.S. security interests?
Answer. Morocco has disrupted terrorist cells and activity within
its borders over the past year and has supported U.S. security
interests in the region by training upwards of 2,500 sub-Saharan
military students annually and over 5,900 moderate religious officials
since 2015 in addition to contributing 1,488 peacekeepers to U.N.
missions. Morocco is a member of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS
and serves as an effective interlocutor with Sahel countries where the
U.S. does not maintain a security presence. Morocco's willingness to
assume greater regional responsibility demonstrates the kind of burden-
sharing this administration prioritizes--collaborators stepping up to
stabilize their own neighborhoods while advancing shared security
objectives.
Question. What specific challenges, if any, limit the effectiveness
of U.S.-Morocco counterterrorism cooperation?
Answer. The United States and Morocco enjoy a robust
counterterrorism partnership. Continued terrorist activity in the Sahel
presents a challenge to the region. The United States continues to
monitor threats emanating from the Sahel and will review what
cooperation is needed with Morocco.
Question. What specific U.S. counterterrorism-related activities or
assistance to Morocco are planned for the next 1 to 2 years?
Answer. CT continues to conduct programming focused on enhancing
Morocco's aviation security in close coordination with other foreign
assistance bureaus and agencies. The aviation security program works to
enhance security at Casablanca airport, which has several direct
flights to the United States. Additional planned activities focus on
sustaining Morocco's training programs for sub-Saharan military
students and religious officials, supporting Morocco's continued
participation in the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, and encouraging
Morocco's repatriation of their nationals from northeast Syria and
Iraq. These targeted programs reflect our streamlined approach:
supporting efforts that actually prevents attacks and strengthens
partner skills to address threats before they reach American shores.
Question. How does the administration assess the overall
effectiveness of U.S. counterterrorism cooperation with Tunisia in
advancing U.S. security objectives?
Answer. U.S. security assistance has trained, equipped, and built
the skills of Tunisia's defense, police, and judicial apparatus to
successfully degrade terrorist threats before they reach U.S. borders.
U.S. support to Tunisia has already paid dividends, with U.S.-trained
units protecting U.S. personnel and religious minorities on numerous
occasions, as well as increasing our information sharing on
counterterrorism issues. This collaboration demonstrates measurable
returns on strategic allocation-- the kind of effective cooperation
that advances homeland security.
Question. What are Tunisia's primary counterterrorism contributions
that directly support U.S. security interests?
Answer. Tunisia has assumed greater burden sharing as a regional
security exporter, providing free U.S. doctrine-inspired training to
over 400 sub-Saharan African military personnel in 2025 and sharing
counterterrorism best practices regionally through their own
International Incident Debrief Conference. The Tunisian Air Force
completes missions from the Air Tasking Order on our behalf for 45
percent of U.S. costs. Tunisia has improved intelligence-sharing
mechanisms to identify and neutralize terrorist cells around the world.
Tunisia exemplifies the shift this administration is driving: countries
taking ownership of regional security challenges and sharing the burden
of counterterrorism operations, which reduces risk to American lives
and resources.
Question. What specific challenges, if any, limit the effectiveness
of U.S. Tunisia counterterrorism cooperation?
Answer. The primary challenge facing U.S.-Tunisia counterterrorism
efforts remains residual terrorist elements that linger in the country,
despite significant progress. In early 2026, Tunisian security forces
conducted a pre-emptive counterterrorism operation in Kasserine (the
Feriana operation), foiling a suspected terror plot and neutralizing
wanted terrorist Seddik Laabidi, a member of an ISIS affiliate. These
incidents indicate that Tunisia's counterterrorism effectiveness has
improved.
Question. What specific U.S. counterterrorism-related activities or
assistance to Tunisia are planned for the next 1 to 2 years?
Answer. Ongoing activities are expected to continue, including
assistance for Tunisia's police apparatus related to crisis response,
encouraging Tunisia's repatriation of their nationals from northeast
Syria and Iraq, and information sharing. The Department also continues
to support Tunisia's regional training programs for sub-Saharan African
military personnel. Tunisia's proven track record--including successful
responses to the 2023 terrorist prison break, 2024 Tunis Grand
Synagogue threat, and 2026 Feriana operation--highlights the impact of
U.S. support for Tunisia's counterterrorism capabilities and
demonstrates its position as a regional security exporter. This
represents the kind of sustainable, collaborator-led security that
protects American interests without open-ended commitments.
Question. How does the administration assess the overall
effectiveness of U.S. counterterrorism cooperation with Algeria in
advancing U.S. security objectives?
Answer. The administration assesses U.S.-Algeria counterterrorism
cooperation as effective in advancing U.S. security objectives,
particularly given Algeria's formidable counterterrorism capabilities.
Algeria's counterterrorism apparatus is effective and continues to
identify and disrupt terrorist threats. Algeria has worked hand-in-hand
with the United States to counter terrorist activity and is currently
cooperating with the U.S. to combat terrorist financing.
Question. What are Algeria's primary counterterrorism contributions
that directly support U.S. security interests?
Answer. Algeria provides several key contributions that directly
support U.S. security interests. Algeria built its counterterrorism
capabilities during its own fight against terror organizations
throughout the 1990s and now serves as a counterterrorism model,
holding counterterrorism conferences to share its expertise with
African partners and hosting the African Union Counterterrorism Center.
Algeria also works with the United States to share information to
identify terrorist threats and counter terrorist financing. These
contributions demonstrate Algeria's role as a regional leader in
counterterrorism skills building and knowledge sharing, which supports
broader U.S. objectives of strengthening partner nation capabilities to
address terrorist threats.
Question. What specific challenges, if any, limit the effectiveness
of U.S.-Algeria counterterrorism cooperation?
Answer. The United States and Algeria enjoy a robust
counterterrorism relationship. Although Algeria has a historic reliance
on Russian military equipment, our security cooperation relationship
has made considerable strides in the past year. Algeria's
counterterrorism apparatus remains the most formidable in the region.
Question. What specific U.S. counterterrorism-related activities or
assistance to Algeria are planned for the next 1 to 2 years?
Answer. U.S. counterterrorism-related foreign assistance is focused
on countering terrorist financing and ensuring Algeria can meet the
Financial Action Task Force's recommendations to counter money
laundering and terrorist financing. Additionally, the United States and
Algeria are continuously working to improve information sharing to
identify and neutralize terrorist threats. Moreover, the United States
will continue to encourage Algeria to repatriate its nationals from
northeast Syria and Iraq. This targeted approach--focusing on
countering the financing of terrorism and information sharing--reflects
our commitment to s disrupting terrorist operations and preventing
attacks.
Question. How does the administration assess the overall
effectiveness of U.S. counterterrorism cooperation with Libya in
advancing U.S. security objectives?
Answer. U.S.-Libya counterterrorism cooperation has countered ISIS-
Libya and other terrorist groups in Libya. Both the Government of
National Unity (GNU) and the Libyan National Army (LNA) recognize the
threat terrorism poses and are taking concrete steps to coordinate on
border security and counterterrorism operations. U.S. counterterrorism
cooperation with Libya is significant, though there is room for
improving information sharing and interoperability.
Question. What are Libya's primary counterterrorism contributions
that directly support U.S. security interests?
Answer. Over the last decade and in close partnership with the
United States, Libya has successfully degraded ISIS-Libya to a point
where the terrorist group currently controls no territory in Libya and
is largely confined to Libya's southern border. ISIS-Libya is a U.S.-
designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), and Libya's commitment
to neutralizing ISIS-Libya and increasing information sharing promotes
U.S. security objectives and safeguards U.S. interests. The degradation
of ISIS-Libya demonstrates what focused counterterrorism cooperation
can achieve: denying terrorists safe haven and preventing them from
using ungoverned spaces to plan attacks against the homeland.
Question. What specific challenges, if any, limit the effectiveness
of U.S.-Libya counterterrorism cooperation?
Answer. Libya's political and security fragmentation are the
primary factors limiting more effective U.S.-Libya counterterrorism
cooperation. Additionally, both the GNU and LNA struggle to exert
control and counter terrorist activity in remote areas of Libya,
especially along the southern border, creating a permissive environment
that terrorists actively seek to take advantage of.
Question. What specific U.S. counterterrorism-related activities or
assistance to Libya are planned for the next 1 to 2 years?
Answer. The Department supports ongoing programming to improve
Libya's counterterrorism skills in border security, aviation security,
and soft target protection. U.S. engagement is focused on addressing
the challenges posed by southern Libya's vast open spaces, increasing
counterterrorism cooperation between the GNU and LNA and their regional
partners, and improving information sharing with U.S. law enforcement
agencies on border security and counterterrorism operations to prevent
ISIS-Libya from reconstituting. Our approach prioritizes border
screening, watch-listing, and information sharing--tools that directly
prevent terrorist travel and protect the American homeland.
Question. How does the administration assess the overall
effectiveness of U.S. counterterrorism cooperation with Egypt in
advancing U.S. security objectives?
Answer. The United States and Egypt cooperate effectively on
counterterrorism issues to advance U.S. security priorities. Egypt has
largely defeated ISIS-Sinai Province (formerly known as Ansar Bayt al-
Maqdis, ABM), Harakat Sawa'd Misr (HASM), and al-Qa'ida-affiliated
groups. The United States and Egypt have also worked closely to counter
threats posed by the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood. Critically, the
United States and Egypt work closely to advance President Trump's peace
plan for Gaza and counter Hamas.
Question. What are Egypt's primary counterterrorism contributions
that directly support U.S. security interests?
Answer. Egypt is committed to countering transnational terrorism in
the Sahel-Sahara region and in 2021 inaugurated the Sahel and Sahara
Counter-terrorism Centre in Cairo, which aims to promote
counterterrorism intelligence sharing. Egypt's successful operations
against ISIS-Sinai Province and HASM demonstrate its capability to
address terrorist threats that could destabilize the region and
threaten U.S. interests. Egypt's regional leadership--including hosting
the Sahel and Sahara Counter-terrorism Centre--exemplifies the kind of
burden-sharing this administration prioritizes, with capable
collaborators taking responsibility for stabilizing their neighborhoods
and preventing terrorist expansion that could ultimately threaten the
homeland.
Question. What specific challenges, if any, limit the effectiveness
of U.S.-Egypt counterterrorism cooperation?
Answer. Key challenges facing U.S.-Egyptian counterterrorism
efforts are various conflicts and instability in the region, which
divide counterterrorism resources. Terrorist expansion in Africa,
Iranian terrorist activity and its destabilizing behavior in the
region, conflict in Sudan, and the situation in Libya divide
counterterrorism resources and present challenges for deeper U.S.-
Egyptian counterterrorism cooperation.
Question. What specific U.S. counterterrorism-related activities or
assistance to Egypt are planned for the next 1 to 2 years?
Answer. The administration encourages allies, including Egypt, to
make concrete commitments to defeating our shared threat from
terrorism, including greater burden-sharing and burden-shifting in the
Sahel. Continued support for Egypt's Sahel and Sahara Counter-terrorism
Centre in Cairo for counterterrorism intelligence sharing is also
anticipated, along with the establishment of a regional aviation
security center of excellence. The United States will continue to
encourage Egypt to repatriate its nationals from northeast Syria and
Iraq. Ongoing Leahy vetting processes will also continue to ensure U.S.
security assistance complies with applicable U.S. laws regarding human
rights. These efforts reflect our streamlined approach: supporting
regional centers of excellence that amplify impact, strengthening
aviation security that protects direct routes to America, and ensuring
real-time intelligence sharing that enables us to disrupt threats
before they materialize.
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[all]