Washington D.C, 26 May 2022 (TDI): The US and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation held a two-day strategic dialogue in Washington D.C. This was the first such dialogue between the US and the OIC.
The OIC Secretary-General, Hissein Brahim Taha, led the delegation representing the intergovernmental body. His delegation met with officials from the Department of State and Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
OIC Secretary-General reached Washington D.C on an official visit on 20th May. Moreover, the purpose of the talks was to address common global challenges and enhance bilateral cooperation between the two sides.
In the inaugural meeting between the US and OIC officials, they discussed regional policy issues, climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic, human rights, food security, and countering violent extremism. Furthermore, they discussed Islamophobia, hate speech, Muslim minorities in the non-OIC Member States, religious freedoms, gender equality, and women empowerment.
The US committed itself to increasing cooperation with the OIC and its member countries on the issues of mutual interest. Meanwhile, the US and OIC agreed to work together to include women and persons with disabilities at the upcoming UN Climate Conferences in Egypt and the UAE.
Likewise, they agreed on the importance of building mechanisms against recruitment and radicalization by terrorist organizations. They emphasized the role of community engagement and education in countering violent extremism.
Finally, the US and OIC agreed to hold more rounds of OIC-US strategic dialogue in the future.
US ties with the Muslim World
The United States has a long history of engagement with Muslim countries throughout the world. In addition, the United States and the OIC share long-term and inclusive economic, social, cultural, and people-to-people ties.
According to a 2017 estimate, nearly 3.45 million Muslims live in the United States, making up 1% of the population. Furthermore, Muslim communities in the US are prominent in business, politics, and other national spheres of the US.
The OIC was founded on 25 September 1969 as the collective voice of the Muslim-majority countries. Presently, it has 57 member states and several observers. The OIC and its members collaborate on issues of international politics, science, health, development, and other areas of the agreed-upon agenda.
Hassan Ahmed is an IR graduate with research and writing experience in IR theory and great power politics. He previously worked as a research fellow at IPDS and wrote for The Diplomatic Insight. His published works include "Reimagining US-Pakistan Ties" and a Book Review of "War Without Winners."
