In an interview with the General Anzeiger, Ulrich Schlie talks about the decisive role of the United States in the Middle East. A look into the past shows the close ties between the USA and Israel, of which the foreign policy position was consolidated through mediation between the United States and other states in the region. In the current situation, too, diplomatic mediation is of the utmost importance, particularly with regard to the hostages in Gaza.
Schlie also referred to this year's International Security Forum Bonn, which took place from 19 October to 22 October 2023 at the Bonn University Forum and also addressed the situation in the Middle East, under the theme "A world out of joint - global power shifts and religious extremism".