Secretary of Defense Dr. Mark T. Esper met today in Tel Aviv with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. They discussed shared security concerns throughout the region and the need for continued cooperation to advance our mutual interests. Secretary Esper reaffirmed the longstanding and continued U.S. commitment to maintain Israel’s Qualitative Military Edge (QME). Both leaders agreed on the need to continue to strengthen the bilateral security relationship.
Secretary Esper and Prime Minister Netanyahu discussed how the normalization of relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain under the Abraham Accords represents a historic opportunity to strengthen regional security.