Reuters Leah Millis
US President Donald Trump
US President Donald Trump awarded a number of his senior advisers with National Security Medals as a reward for their role in helping to conclude agreements aimed at normalizing relations between Israel and four Arab countries.
Trump awarded the National Security Medal to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Treasury Secretary Stephen Mnuchin, National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien, Senior Adviser Jared Kushner, US Middle East Envoy Avi Berkowitz, US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman, and US Ambassador to the Emirates John Rakolta.
“Thanks to the efforts of these individuals, the region will not be what it used to be, as it finally transcends past conflicts,” the White House said in a statement.
Over the past four months, Israel has concluded agreements with the UAE, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco within the framework of what the United States describes as “the Abraham agreements.”
Senior U.S. officials hope to strike another deal before Trump’s term ends on Jan.20.
The president’s authority to award the National Security Medal dates back to 1953 under an executive order permitting recognition of major contributions in the field of national security.
Source: Reuters
