Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is currently engaged in the war against the terrorist organization HAMAS, will visit Washington, D.C. on a working trip, where he is scheduled to meet with President Donald Trump. This will be the first visit of a foreign leader to the White House following the presidential inauguration, highlighting the symbolic importance of this step by one of the United States’ closest allies, Israel.
According to reports, the leaders will discuss the situation in the Middle East, the exchange of military prisoners, threats originating from Iran, and the normalization of relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia.
The normalization of relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia is particularly significant for the United States, as both countries are considered historic allies of one of the world’s largest economies. Additionally, shifting the balance of power in the Middle East is a critical objective for Donald Trump himself, who during his first presidential term helped bring Israel closer to several Arab states, including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Morocco. However, during President Biden’s term, the war initiated with Iran’s support has cast doubt on the strength of the Abraham Accords.
Last year, a major development was the weakening of Russian influence in the Middle East following the downfall of the Syrian dictatorship led by Bashar al-Assad. Meanwhile, Donald Trump continues to combat the terrorist organization known as the “Islamic State,” which has been weakened. It is possible that Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu will also discuss the broader issue of eradicating terrorism in the region and beyond.
