Barack Obama Plans Overseas Trip to Middle East and Europe

Sen. Barack Obama will travel overseas at an undisclosed date to meet with leader in countries of Europe and the Middle East. He will visit France, Germany, Israel, Jordan and the United Kingdom to discuss subjects like security and climate change.

This trip will be an important opportunity for me to assess the situation in countries that are critical to American national security, and to consult with some of our closest friends and allies about the common challenges we face.

Israel is a strong and close friend of the United States, and is confronting grave threats from Gaza to Tehran. Jordan has been a close partner in the peace process and a host of other issues of common concern. France, Germany, and the United Kingdom are key anchors of the transatlantic alliance and have contributed to the mission in Afghanistan, and I look forward to discussing how we can strengthen our partnership in the years to come. This will be an important opportunity to have an exchange of views with leaders in these countries about these and other issues that are critical to American national security -- and global security -- in the 21st century.

John McCain has focused on security and foreign policy issues in his campaign, and he has challenged Obama in this area. A CNN poll has shown that voters favor McCain on foreign policy, one of the few issue categories where he leads the Illinois senator.