Kathy McMorris Rogers on Middle East Leadership Role

Kathy McMorris Rogers is continuing her focus on Middle Eastern affairs even after her time in Congress. She recently discussed her new role with the American Israel Education Association (USIEA), where she aims to enhance leadership within the pharmaceutical sector.

“As someone who has served in Congress, I’m genuinely excited to advise the USIEA,” Rogers conveyed in her conversation with Fox News Digital. “There’s strong support for prioritizing US-Israel relations, and I’m particularly focused on the initiative to integrate Friend Holling’s drug supply chain in the Abraham Accord region.”

Aligned with the Caucus, Rogers has insight into the complex dynamics that were established during the Trump administration, which aimed to strengthen ties between Israel and various Arab states.

“We’ve recognized just how vulnerable our pharmaceutical supply chain has become, especially since many aspects are controlled by China. This initiative aligns with priorities I had while serving in Congress,” she explained.

The Trump administration aimed to bring manufacturing back to the US as a central goal. Yet, when local production isn’t feasible, “Friendshoring” becomes a viable alternative, leveraging close relationships for important supplies.

Currently, China holds a significant share of the pharmaceutical market, particularly in active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and generic drugs. Rogers referenced a report by Brookings, which indicates that around a quarter of the drugs sold in the US contain Chinese-produced APIs.

“Many pharmaceutical companies are navigating through President Trump’s tariffs on China, which has facilitated a return of manufacturing to America. But, it’s complicated, especially with generics making up 92% of our prescriptions,” Rogers added, mentioning countries like the UAE and Bahrain as potential sources for raw materials and manufacturing opportunities.

Rogers highlighted the importance of the Abraham Accord, a diplomatic effort initiated under Trump in 2020, which successfully fostered governmental relationships. She noted that the USIEA aims to strengthen economic ties among member nations.

Interestingly, she appeared unfazed by local instabilities when discussing potential partnerships with other nations involved in the Abraham Accords. “I see potential collaboration with them on this initiative,” she remarked.

“There’s a strong desire to diversify away from energy reliance. The goal is not only to enhance national security by reducing dependency on adversarial countries like China for supply chains but also to bolster relationships within Abraham’s cooperative nations,” Rogers elaborated.

Even off Capitol Hill, Rogers maintains that her former colleagues are vital to the initiative’s success. Her primary focus remains on setting up an FDA office in the region and she hopes to see tangible progress this year.