According to a new report, the USA set up a secret defense meeting--participated by its Israeli and Middle Eastern allies--to discuss how to handle the growing Iranian offensive capabilities.
Concerns about how to synch air defense with all allies were addressed in order to deal with Iran's ballistic missiles and drones, as revealed by the Wall Street Journal.
Pooling Allies in the Middle East to Isolate Iran
Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, Bahrain, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates participated in the meeting that was reportedly held last March, with top military officers representing them.
For the US, then-Central Command chief Frank Mackenzie served as representative. All participants reportedly agreed on procedures to quickly notify each other through telephone or computer if aerial threats have been detected.
For what it's worth, Col. Joe Buccino--spokesman of the US Central Command--refused to answer if the meeting really happened. However, he did highlight that they maintain "a firm commitment to increasing regional cooperation and developing integrated air and missile defense architecture to protect our force and our regional partners."
Col. Buccino proceeded to describe Iran as the "the primary destabilizing factor" in the Middle East."
The alleged March clandestine defense meeting was described as a follow-up to earlier but lower-level secret talks by a task group that was prompted by former CENTCOM chief planning officer Scott Benedict.
President Joe Biden will personally talk about ways to improve and widen these defense negotiations during his scheduled visit to israel and the West Bank, including Saudi Arabia in July, per the Times of Israel.
Joe Biden's Israel, Saudi Arabia Trip Revealed
The White House announced President Joe Biden will in the Middle East to visit Israel and Saudi Arabia from July 13 to 16.
He accepted an invitation to visit Israel in April, although it was supposed to be in late June. it got pushed later to July due to scheduling issues for the Saudi Arabia trip. Before the trip, Democrats took a stand for Riyadh's human rights track record, as reported by France 24.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said that the president will meet with top Israeli officials in the first leg of the Middle East tour. Also, the US president will be visiting the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial and East Jerusalem.
Other parts of the Biden itinerary include touring the US-funded missile defense battery called Iron Dome in a bid to get more funding for it. The POTUS also hopes to discuss innovations to handle missile and aerial threats.
Another focus of the visit is to highlight the Abraham Accords with several Arab countries. One more highlight is the forum with the US, India, UAE, and Israel called the I2U2.
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett added that the US will reveal its plans and steps to integrate Israel into the Middle East for security and civilian cooperation.
After Jerusalem, the US leader will fly to Jeddah and take part in the yearly GCC+3 summit with Gulf Cooperation Council leaders from major countries in the Middle East.
Biden is also expected to meet with Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman while in the KSA.
