Lloyd Austin, the United States Secretary of Defense, has scheduled a visit to Israel to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallan, and other leaders. According to Politico, the visit will take place on Friday.


According to the publication's sources, Austin will travel to Israel after a meeting in Brussels with his colleagues to discuss assistance to Ukraine under the Ramstein initiative.


It is noted that the Pentagon is actively considering Israel's request for the supply of small-caliber high-precision munitions and equipment that can turn conventional unguided munitions into precision weapons.

UPDATED

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin arrived in Israel on Friday, October 13, and scheduled a series of meetings with senior Israeli officials. This was reported by The Associated Press.


This visit makes Austin the second high-ranking US official to visit Israel since the Hamas attack.


Earlier, on October 12, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken arrived in Israel.


Austin is expected to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Israel's top military leadership. Austin will also visit sites where US weapons provided to Israel are used.


Before his visit to Israel, Lloyd Austin visited Brussels. In Belgium, on October 11, he participated in a meeting on Ukraine's defense in the Ramstein format, which took place at NATO headquarters and brought together President Volodymyr Zelensky for the first time.