Defense/Security cooperation

Steve Witkoff, US special envoy to the Middle East, (C) Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of the United States Central Command (CENTCOM), (L) and Jared Kushner listen as US Vice President JD Vance speaks.

Analysis

Why Trump is betting on military leaders for Iran negotiations

The White House has enlisted senior US military commanders to grease the wheels of complex negotiations with adversaries, but can they help advance Trump's policy demands?

Jared Szuba

In Washington, DC, reporting on defense, national security, military

US President Donald Trump shakes hands with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago club on Dec. 29, 2025, in Palm Beach, Florida.

Analysis

Despite Israeli concerns, sources say Trump giving Iran talks up to 2 months

Leaving Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu in the dark over his intentions, sources suggest that US President Trump decided on a deadline for the talks with Iran.

In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense

A screen grab of a video from Turkish Aerospace Industries shows a Gobkey helicopter in flight.

Turkey, Saudi Arabia ink deal for production of Gokbey helicopters

The deal comes amid advanced talks on Riyadh joining Ankara’s KAAN fighter jet program.

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 29: U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff (L) shakes hands with U.S. President Donald Trump (R) as U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum (2L) and Kathryn Burgum (2R) look on in the Oval Office at the White House on January 29, 2026 in Washington, DC. U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order to coordinate a federal government response to drug addiction. (Photo by Samuel Corum/Getty Images)

Analysis

Fearing Iran deal, Netanyahu races to US to sway Trump, sidestep Witkoff

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu is flying to Washington to persuade President Donald Trump not to forget Iran's ballistic missile project and its proxies in the talks with Tehran.

In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense

Latest News

Arms production to air defense: Inside $350M Egypt-Turkey military pact

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stand with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in Cairo, Feb. 4, 2026.

Analysis

Oman talks leave Israel unsure of Trump's endgame as missile threat persists

AFP via Getty Images

In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense

After Israel's FM visit, Iran defense chief in Azerbaijan, meets Aliyev

Iran’s Minister of Defense Brig. Gen. Aziz Nasirzadeh arrives in Baku, Feb. 6, 2026.

Analysis

As US-Iran talks set to begin, Israel struggles to shape Trump's options

The commander of CENTCOM, Admiral Brad Cooper, visited Israel as the official guest of Chief of the General Staff Eyal Zamir.

Rina Bassist

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

Congress approves waiver for Lloyd Austin to become defense secretary

The Senate is expected to confirm the former CENTCOM commander as Pentagon chief Friday.

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JANUARY 04: President-elect Joe Biden (C) rallys with Democratic candidates for the U.S. Senate Jon Ossoff (L) and Rev. Raphael Warnock (R) the day before their runoff election in the parking lot of Center Parc Stadium January 04, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia. Biden's trip comes a day after the release of a recording of an hourlong call where President Donald Trump seems to pressure Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to “find” the votes he would need to reverse the presidential ele

What Democrats' Senate majority means for the Mideast

Incoming Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez opposed the Iran nuclear deal and has been a proponent of the US recognizing the Armenian genocide.

Under Biden, US-Turkey relations face delicate balancing act

Analysts expect the Joe Biden administration to take a harder stance than the Trump administration did on diverging US-Turkey policies, while noting Washington will also need to take pains to avoid alienating the key NATO ally.

United Arab Emirates signs deal to buy F-35s, drones just before Biden sworn in

President Joe Biden has suggested his administration might review or impose conditions on arms sales, but it is not yet clear he will oppose the deal.

United Arab Emirates

Blinken: 'Vitally important' to engage with Israel, Gulf on Iran nuclear deal

Antony Blinken also said the administration would immediately review the terror designation of Yemen's Houthi rebels.

Bahraini king receives award from Trump

US President Donald Trump reportedly gave the prestigious Legion of Merit, Degree Chief Commander to King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.

Egypt dodges Trump’s ire as White House orders massive last-minute aid cuts

The outgoing president briefly sought to freeze all US military aid to Egypt over its purchase of Russian military hardware, but the White House revised the decision before notifying Congress, Al-Monitor's sources said.

Trump orders US Central Command to include Israel amid strategic shift

The decision caps the outgoing administration's efforts to build a regional defense arrangement to counter Iran.

Pentagon’s top policy official meets Saudi Arabia’s deputy defense minister in Riyadh

Anthony Tata sat down with Prince Khalid bin Salman on Thursday, but details of the discussion remain unclear.

Israeli sailors stand on board the first of four new German-built Saar 6 naval vessels purchased by the navy, in the northern Haifa city naval base, on December 2, 2020. - Israel received the first of its new missile boats, with a top naval officer telling AFP the fleet upgrade "dramatically" improves the country's ability to counter regional rivals, including Iran. (Photo by Heidi levine / POOL / AFP) (Photo by HEIDI LEVINE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

For Israel, Houthi threat a whole new ballgame

Israel fears that Iran would encourage the Houthis in Yemen to attack the southern city of Eilat.

An Israeli F35 I takes part in the "Blue Flag" multinational air defence exercise at the Ovda air force base, north of the Israeli city of Eilat, on November 11, 2019. (Photo by JACK GUEZ / AFP) (Photo by JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images)

Israel hoping for last-minute F-35s from Trump administration

Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz said additional F-15 purchases may follow the procurement of a third F-35 squadron.

Activists stand in front of a tank and hold up signs reading "stop exports of weapons" to protest against plans of German military technology group Rheinmetall to built a tank factory in Turkey, on April 26, 2017 in front of the Bundestag in Berlin. / AFP PHOTO / John MACDOUGALL (Photo credit should read JOHN MACDOUGALL/AFP via Getty Images)

Germany opposes arms embargo against Turkey

Greece has called for European leaders to apply stronger pressure on Ankara over its actions in the eastern Mediterranean, but the appeals have largely fallen on deaf ears.