Remarks by President Trump Announcing Normalization of Relations Between Sudan and Israel | Eastern North Carolina Now

    And I will just say as well that these peace agreements are not as easy as President Trump and his team are making them look. These are very hard agreements. These are conflicts that have gone on for decades, in many regards. And getting people to resolve these conflicts and focus on how you can create a brighter future is just a tremendous thing that makes America safer and the world a better place.

    So thank you, Mr. President, for your leadership.

    PRESIDENT TRUMP: It's very funny when Jared said that - it's true. They've been going on for, you could say, centuries, in some cases, really. I mean, if you think about it, but they've been going on for many decades. And it's just falling into place. It's all falling. It was the right system, and all falling.

    AMBASSADOR O'BRIEN: Mr. President, thank you. And thank you to everyone here, all the members of your team that have been - worked so diligently - Jared and with the Secretary under - Secretary Mnuchin and Secretary Pompeo - under your direction.

    What I said early on, when I - when I came to this job is that your legacy, Mr. President, as you left office, would be as that of a peacemaker, and I'd say -

    PRESIDENT TRUMP: Nobody would have believed that. (Laughter.) Except you.

    AMBASSADOR O'BRIEN: And I think it's shown a tremendous amount of courage for you to put your political capital and put your leadership at risk. I think it also shows a tremendous amount of courage with the leaders who are on the phone, with the Prime Minister of Israel, the Prime Minister of Sudan, the Chairman, the Council in Sudan - King Hamad, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed. It's taken a tremendous amount of courage.

    But it's not just here, Mr. President. At your direction, Secretary Pompeo signed a peace agreement with the Taliban. And we haven't had a combat death in Afghanistan since February.

    PRESIDENT TRUMP: No, think of that: In Afghanistan, we have not had a combat death since February. It's a long time ago. I mean, that's something that is very nice. That's got a beautiful ring to it.

    Please.

    AMBASSADOR O'BRIEN: And you brought normalization to Serbia and Kosovo, economic normalization. Kosovo is another Muslim majority nation that has recognized Israel and moved their capital to Jerusalem or - moved their embassy to Jerusalem.

    So again, Mr. President, I think you and the team that you've put together has just done a tremendous job, bringing peace to the American - bringing peace to world which, in turn, brings peace to the American people and - and allows us to keep our sons and daughters who serve in uniform here at home and - and not out in the Middle East and other places, as you've talked about during your time in office, Mr. President.

    PRESIDENT TRUMP: Thank you, Robert.

    AMBASSADOR O'BRIEN: Thank you.

    PRESIDENT TRUMP: Thank you very much. Steve?

    SECRETARY MNUCHIN: Mr. President, congratulations on another incredible achievement with this peace agreement between Sudan and Israel.


    And I just returned from representing you in the region. I was in Abu Dhabi, Mr. President, representing you at the first-ever Abraham Accords Business Summit between Israel and UAE. And seeing the leaders of both those countries and the business people now interacting together and doing business was extraordinary. And also in Bahrain and seeing the region under your leadership, united against the terrorist acts from Iran and the - the issues in Iran, you have brought peace and stability to the region and security.

    PRESIDENT TRUMP: It's a much different place.

    Brian Hook? Please.

    MR. HOOK: Mr. President, the Arab-Israeli conflict is moving toward its end. And this is transformative diplomacy that has been led by the President. It started with two peace agreements in the Middle East, and now it has spread to Africa.

    And the President has stood with Israel and countered Iran, and that has given space to our Arab partners to move closer to Israel. And so with three peace agreements, this is now the third defeat for Iran's foreign policy, and it is another victory for America.

    PRESIDENT TRUMP: Had we not done what we did with Iran, this could never worked. That was a horrible deal. That was a horrible setback. Bibi and others were very much against it at the time, but that's what the problem was. And it was not well done, not well executed. And that agreement is practically over. Had we let that agreement stay - it's practically over - and that would have been a pathway to nuclear weapons and we'll never let Iran have nuclear weapons.

    Avi, just say a few words, please.

    MR. BERKOWITZ: Thank you, Mr. President. Congratulations. I think it's worth reiterating that these deals - the third Arab League country to recognize Israel - is only possible because of your leadership. This would not have happened if not for President Trump. And the possibilities are endless because of your leadership. And hopefully, more and more countries will join.

    PRESIDENT TRUMP: So they've been working on this - how many years, Bibi? Peace. How many years have they been working, approximately?

    PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU: I've been talking about it for 25 years. But, Mr. President, it's a fact that it was your involvement that accelerated everything.

    When I met Chairman al-Burhan in Uganda, in Africa, eight months ago, I hoped we could reach this day. But it took your diplomacy, your team, and, frankly, the courage - the courage of the leaders of Sudan and their wisdom, their willingness to join all of us in this historic - historic - odyssey. I mean this - but this isn't odyssey; an odyssey is a long journey. (Laughter.) This is a - this is like an express train - (laughter) - that is moving from one peace treaty to the other. And I think one reinforces the other.

    And I'm very excited by a new future for Israel and Sudan. But I'm very excited also, for a new future for Israel and other countries - which you and I know, Mr. President - are willing to join us. So I think this - this is the beginning of something or the configuration of something very, very profound and big. It's a change of history.

    PRESIDENT TRUMP: And, Bibi, how does it feel flying those beautiful airliners right over the top of UAE - you never thought that was going to happen, right? - to save about two hours in flight time?

    PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU: Well, people are flying in the open. I mean, they're - they're actually flying over what used to be, you know, unthinkable -


    PRESIDENT TRUMP: Dangerous.

    PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU: - expanses of land that were -

    PRESIDENT TRUMP: Basically.

    PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU: - basically a - you know, in a belligerent state with us. Now, they're flying to Dubai. Israelis are flying to - they want to fly into Bahrain. Very soon, we'd like to fly to Sudan. We'd like to - to have joint entrepreneurs, joint ventures, tourism, everything.

    And I think what - what was changing, Mr. President, under this vision of peace, is that it doesn't have to be a zero-sum game. It can be a win, win, win, win. I was going to say "win-win," but there's so many wins here that - (laughter) - that, you know, we should - we should continue. And that's - that's really, I think, the remarkable change that you have brought forward in this area.

    I've been, frankly, believing it - but it would not happen with - for a long time, but it would not happen with such an active - I would say, positive and confident American position that just threw away the board and said, "We're starting anew. The old thing didn't work. This thing works. Let's move." And you did.

    PRESIDENT TRUMP: Yeah.

    PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU: And we are all moving.

    PRESIDENT TRUMP: So we have many countries, as you know, getting ready. And we also have - I'm sure you'll see Saudi Arabia in there very soon. I really believe that will happen too. And very good relations with Saudi Arabia.

    So you'll see something very special. And this is already special, but we are going to be signing numerous countries in the not-too-distant future. So that will be great.

    While you are on the phone, could I ask you how is the dam doing in Ethiopia? The largest dam in many, many years being built. Unfortunately, it stops water from flowing into the - the Nile, which causes Egypt a little bit of a problem. Right? As it should.

    But Ethiopia built the dam. You know all about it probably, Bibi, but I've been dealing with Sudan on that. And I'm just curious, how is that going? Because you're really the third party involved, with Ethiopia and Egypt, in the dam.

    Are they working out their deal? Because I had a deal done for them, and then unfortunately, Ethiopia broke the deal, which they should not have done. That was a big mistake. And we've stopped payment to them of about - of a lot of aid because they did it. And they will never see that money unless they adhere to the agreement. But they built a dam, which stops water from flowing into the Nile. And you can't blame Egypt for being a little bit upset. Right? How are they doing with that? Do you know?

    PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU: Well, I think they need a lot of help to resolve it -

    PRESIDENT TRUMP: Yeah, no - well, you - I was - actually talking to Sudan, Bibi. (Laughter.)

    Talking to the Chairman, talking to the Prime Minister. How are you doing?

    CHAIRMAN BURHAN: (Inaudible.)

    PRESIDENT TRUMP: May not want to answer that. (Laughter.)

    PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU: Please, go ahead.

    CHAIRMAN BURHAN: (Inaudible.) We do very much appreciate the effort that started with the Washington (inaudible), which in very few months, brought us together. I think that this is very (inaudible) we hope to reach a win-win situation that will bring a lot of benefits (inaudible). And we are moving in that direction. We hope you reach an amicable solution soon for this.


    PRESIDENT TRUMP: Yeah, if you would, because I had a deal done and then they broke the deal, and they can't do that. They can't do that.