Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu is expected to travel to Washington later this week for another meeting with President Donald Trump, according to assessments within the Prime Minister’s Office. If the visit takes place as planned, it will mark the eighth meeting between the two leaders since President Trump returned to the White House, underscoring the close relationship and frequent coordination between Israel and Washington.

The anticipated visit follows a phone call between the two leaders on Friday, during which they agreed to meet in the near future. A separate Israeli delegation is also expected to travel to the United States for additional consultations on Iran, although officials believe the two visits will be conducted on separate schedules.

The Iranian nuclear program is expected to top the agenda, along with a range of regional security issues. Israeli officials view close coordination with the Trump administration as essential in shaping policy toward Tehran, particularly following recent developments in the region and ongoing efforts to prevent Iran from advancing its nuclear capabilities.

Another major topic is expected to be the growing relationship between the United States and Turkey. Israeli officials are closely monitoring President Trump’s anticipated visit to Ankara and are particularly concerned about the possibility that Washington could restore defense cooperation with Turkey, including approving the sale of F-35 fighter jets or other advanced military systems.

Those concerns stem from Turkey’s removal from the F-35 program in 2019 after purchasing the Russian-made S-400 air defense system, a move that prompted U.S. fears that sensitive information about the stealth aircraft could be exposed to Russia. Despite that history, the Trump administration is reportedly examining ways to rebuild defense ties with Ankara, including a potential agreement to sell F-110 engines for Turkey’s domestically produced KAAN fighter jet.

Also in the background are the warm personal ties between President Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. According to an Associated Press report, President Trump suggested that his expected visit to Ankara following the 36th NATO Summit could include a major announcement benefiting Erdogan.

When asked whether he would arrive with “a big bag of gifts,” President Trump responded, “Yes, I think so. I’ll probably do something that will make him very happy.”

Israeli officials are also watching Turkey’s increasingly hostile rhetoric toward Israel. Last week, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told CNN Türk that Israel has become a burden on the international community, accusing it of destabilizing the region and declaring that Turkey is not afraid of a confrontation with the Jewish state. His comments followed a series of previous anti-Israel statements by President Erdogan.

Against that backdrop, officials in Yerushalayim view Netanyahu’s expected meeting with President Trump as an important opportunity to present Israel’s concerns directly to the administration. Alongside discussions about Iran, the prime minister is expected to stress the potential security implications of expanding U.S.-Turkey defense cooperation, particularly if Washington approves the sale of advanced military systems to Ankara.

{Matzav.com}