WASHINGTON (AP) – Joe Biden and a small group of Senate colleagues including Maine’s Susan Collins are heading to Southwest Asia on a congressional trip just days before he’s set to become vice president.

The Delaware senator is making the trip later this week in his capacity as chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, a post he has to resign before becoming vice president on Jan. 20.

For security reasons, his Senate office did not disclose details of the itinerary.

Joining Biden and Collins, R-Maine, will be Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., the incoming chairman of the committee. Also accompanying the vice president-elect will be Sens. Jack Reed, D-R.I., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. Collins and Graham are members of the Armed Services Committee.

A statement from Biden’s office said the trip was designed to help with upcoming reviews that the executive and legislative branches will be taking in coming months of U.S. policy toward the region.

But Biden’s new status is sure to create intense interest with leaders of the countries he is visiting.

Alexander did not respond to questions about why Biden thought it was important to make the trip so close to the inauguration.

AP-ES-01-05-09 1817EST