Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is meeting with US President Donald Trump in Washington, DC, amid a strained relationship between the two leaders. This is Netanyahu’s seventh visit to the US since Trump returned to power, and he arrives as a leader facing reelection.
Background
The relationship between Netanyahu and Trump has markedly shifted since they last met five months ago. The close cooperation and effusive praise from the start of the Iran war have given way to Trump’s expletive-laden outbursts directed at his most vocal international advocate.
Netanyahu has been working to secure an invitation to the White House for several weeks to discuss progress in the Iran war and warn Trump against diplomatic concessions. Trump had been resistant to meeting, but the funeral of US Sen. Lindsey Graham provided an opportunity for a sit-down.
Agenda
Netanyahu plans to present Trump with fresh intelligence on the state of Iran’s nuclear and military rebuilding. He also seeks assurances that any arms sales to Turkey or nuclear cooperation with Saudi Arabia won’t compromise Israel’s military edge.
Additionally, Netanyahu wants to discuss a new long-term US-Israel defense pact to replace the Obama-era memorandum that is set to expire. He believes that direct engagement with Trump can bypass disagreements within the administration.
Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.
