Joint Statement on the Meeting of the U.S.-Israel Strategic Consultative Group

Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs Jake Sullivan hosted Israeli National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi, Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer, and a senior Israeli interagency delegation at the White House on March 6 for a meeting of the U.S.-Israel Strategic Consultative Group.  They were joined by senior representatives from their respective foreign policy, defense, and intelligence agencies.  The officials reviewed with significant concern advances in Iran’s nuclear program, and affirmed their mutual objective of further enhancing the longstanding security partnership between Israel and the United States.  In this regard, officials pledged to enhance coordination on measures to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon and to further deter Iran’s hostile regional activities.  They also reviewed recent joint military exercises between the U.S military and the Israel Defense Forces, and welcomed the visit to Israel later this week by Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.  Finally, the officials reviewed efforts to further deepen Israel’s security and political integration into the Middle East region through the Abraham Accords, the Negev Forum, and other formats such as I2U2.   Mr. Sullivan reemphasized President Biden’s unshakeable commitment to Israel’s security as expressed in the Jerusalem U.S.-Israel Strategic Partnership Joint Declaration signed during the President’s visit to Israel in July 2022.