Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Wednesday conducted the first call with his U.S. counterpart, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.
Minister Gallant emphasized the unique and unshakable bond between Israel and the United States, a bond that is based on shared values, interests, and unparalleled cooperation in all areas. He expressed his commitment to further expanding the excellent cooperation between the respective defense establishments in the strategic, military, and industrial arenas – thus serving the interests and defending the freedoms of both nations.
During the call, Minister Gallant shared a situation assessment of the top strategic challenges threatening the security of the State of Israel and stability in the Middle East region, starting with the multi-faceted Iranian threat, including its nuclear ambitions, regional aggression, and proliferation of advanced accurate weapons. He highlighted the critical international cooperation required to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, which threatens not only Israel but the entire international community. In this respect, he also emphasized the importance of further expanding the Abraham Accords to additional countries and deepening existing strategic and military cooperation with regional partners, under U.S. leadership.
Minister Gallant concluded the discussion by thanking Secretary Austin for his steadfast commitment to Israel’s security and qualitative military edge, and highlighted the importance of continuing the strategic dialogue in person.