Biden's meeting with Israeli prime minister to keep spotlight on Afghanistan, terrorist threats to allies
President Biden's upcoming meeting with new Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett is likely to center on the escalating crisis in Afghanistan, as well as other emerging threats to the U.S. and its allies due to the rise of terrorism in the region, experts predict.
Biden is set to hold a meeting at the White HouseThursday with Prime Minister Bennett, the first in-person meeting between the two leaders. In a statement last week, White House press secretary Jen Psaki had said tensions with Iran are expected to be a focus of the discussion.
"The President and Prime Minister Bennett will discuss critical issues related to regional and global security, including Iran," said Psaki in a statement announcing the meeting. "The visit will also be an opportunity for the two leaders to discuss efforts to advance peace, security, and prosperity for Israelis and Palestinians and the importance of working towards a more peaceful and secure future for the region."
However, in the days since the White House announced the visit, Biden's foreign policy credibility with allies and adversaries has taken a deep dive due to the botched withdrawal of U.S.-led NATO troops from Afghanistan.
Former national security experts are saying that Biden's meeting with Bennett will be a true test for the future of the close alliance between the countries, including how they will jointly combat aggressive nations toward Israel in the region and the rise of terrorism.
Rich Goldberg, Vandenberg Coalition Advisory Board member and former director for Countering Iranian Weapons of Mass Destruction for the National Security Council (NSC) under President Trump, told Fox News that the already "difficult" meeting between the two leaders got more complicated after the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.
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