Barbara Leaf, a former ambassador to the United Arab Emirates and seasoned diplomat, is about to hitch President-elect Joe Biden’s Nationwide Sa
Barbara Leaf, a former ambassador to the United Arab Emirates and seasoned diplomat, is about to hitch President-elect Joe Biden’s Nationwide Safety Council (NSC), in keeping with a number of sources conversant in her pending appointment.
Leaf will be part of the workforce led by Brett McGurk, who was named final week because the coordinator for the Center East and North Africa on the White Home. That is smart, as Leaf has spent the vast majority of her profession dealing with points within the area, together with separate stints as a prime State Division official for the Arabian Peninsula and for Iraq, and because the company’s first director of the Workplace of Iranian Affairs. She additionally served in Israel, Egypt, and Tunisia, amongst different assignments.
After leaving authorities in 2018, Leaf joined the Washington Institute for Close to East Coverage suppose tank in Washington, DC. It was there that she provided insights on America’s relationship with the UAE — a key ally within the Gulf — that nation’s burgeoning relations with Israel, in addition to America’s diplomatic presence in Iraq.
In December, Leaf spoke to me about an impending $23 billion arms sale to the UAE that the Trump administration desires to expedite earlier than the brand new administration takes over. Whereas some frightened the sale of superior fighter jets, drones, and bombs would make the Gulf nation a stronger regional participant — maybe prepared to make use of its newfound may to assault Iran — Leaf instructed me she didn’t concern that chance.
“This received’t change the army steadiness within the Center East,” she stated. “Iran’s missile and nonconventional arsenals are formidable and will wreak immense injury, even when the UAE will get the F-35.”
Sources stated she’ll work on America’s relations with Gulf allies whereas on the NSC, although the precise parameters of her appointment are unclear. That’s regular at this stage, and the problems she’ll lead will turn into clearer because the retired ambassador spends extra time on the White Home.
Nonetheless, a Gulf portfolio could be a difficult one, as Biden has already promised to extricate the US from the Saudi-led conflict in Yemen and vowed to reform ties with regional allies. That might put Leaf on the heart of delicate and probably controversial international coverage selections proper from the beginning.
Some on the State Division are already wanting ahead to seeing how she’ll deal with her function. “She is aware of all of Close to Japanese Affairs fairly effectively, so I anticipate her to work effectively with State,” a diplomatic official instructed me, talking on the situation of anonymity as a result of they weren’t licensed to speak to press.
Leaf declined to remark, and Biden’s transition workforce stated it had no personnel appointments to announce.