US Defense Chief Cancels Israel Visit Amid Policy Shift
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has canceled his scheduled trip to Israel next week, a source familiar with the matter confirmed Thursday. The cancellation comes as part of a broader realignment of the Trump administration’s Middle East strategy ahead of the president’s upcoming regional tour.
Hegseth, who would have been making his first official visit to Israel since assuming office, will still accompany President Trump on other legs of his Middle East journey, including stops in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.
Strategic Priorities Shifting
The abrupt schedule change comes amid reports that President Trump has dropped a key policy requirement linking Saudi-Israeli normalization to progress on civil nuclear cooperation with Riyadh, according to The Jerusalem Post.
Hegseth had been expected to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz during the now-canceled visit. The defense secretary’s itinerary adjustment signals a potential recalibration of U.S. diplomatic priorities in the region.
Sources indicate the administration is pursuing a more flexible approach to regional diplomacy than its predecessor, which had established firm preconditions for Saudi-Israeli normalization.
Nuclear Cooperation Takes Center Stage
The Biden administration had consistently linked Saudi Arabia’s desire for a civilian nuclear program with requirements for a peace agreement with Israel. Senior officials from the previous administration made clear during months of dialogue that nuclear cooperation would only advance alongside normalization efforts.
Trump’s apparent willingness to decouple these issues represents a significant shift in U.S. policy toward the kingdom. The administration appears to be prioritizing strategic partnerships and defense arrangements over immediate diplomatic breakthroughs between Israel and Saudi Arabia.
Energy and national security experts have long debated the implications of expanding civilian nuclear capabilities in the region, with concerns about proliferation balanced against economic and energy diversification arguments.
Arms Deal Advances Despite Normalization Delays
President Trump is expected to arrive in Riyadh next week to finalize a multi-billion-dollar arms agreement with Saudi Arabia. This deal, too, marks a departure from previous policy, as the Biden administration had positioned arms sales as another incentive contingent upon Saudi-Israeli diplomatic progress.
The weapons package is expected to strengthen Saudi defense capabilities at a time of heightened regional tensions. Details of the agreement have not been publicly disclosed, but analysts suggest it may include advanced air defense systems and precision munitions.
Defense industry observers note that the timing of Trump’s visit coincides with growing concerns about regional security dynamics, particularly regarding Iran’s influence and military capabilities.
Regional Impact and Israeli Response
Israeli officials have not publicly commented on Hegseth’s cancellation or the reported policy shift regarding Saudi normalization. The Netanyahu government has repeatedly expressed hopes for expanded regional integration following the Abraham Accords, which normalized Israel’s relations with the UAE, Bahrain, and Morocco during Trump’s first term.
Middle East analysts suggest the administration may be pursuing a more incremental approach to regional integration, focusing first on security cooperation and economic ties before pursuing formal diplomatic recognition between Saudi Arabia and Israel.
The president’s upcoming Middle East tour is expected to clarify the administration’s regional priorities and establish a framework for U.S. policy in the volatile region for the coming years.