A gathering between US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is just not at the moment on the agenda throughout Netanyahu’s upcoming go to to the USA, a senior US official advised The Jerusalem Publish on Saturday, with the most recent schedules inserting the 2 leaders in New York at completely different instances.
Netanyahu’s presence in New York is anticipated to be “fairly restricted,” the official mentioned, noting that underneath the latest schedule out there to the administration, the prime minister is just not on account of arrive till after Trump has already left.
“The newest scheduling that I’ve seen, he can be right here after the president leaves,” the official mentioned when requested immediately whether or not Netanyahu was searching for a gathering with Trump.
A senior Israeli official advised the Publish that Netanyahu is anticipated to reach in New York on the morning of his UN Basic Meeting handle and depart for Israel instantly afterward.
At this stage, it seems Netanyahu will fly immediately from Israel to New York relatively than cease in Texas, and should not spend an evening in the USA in any respect. Nonetheless, the supply pressured that the prime minister’s remaining itinerary has not but been finalized.
Netanyahu’s UN Basic Meeting handle is anticipated later within the week, the US official added, whereas Trump is about to reach in New York on Monday and depart Tuesday night.
The US official declined to say whether or not Netanyahu or members of his crew had formally requested a gathering, citing a coverage in opposition to discussing requests submitted to the White Home. In sensible phrases, nonetheless, the present schedule leaves no overlap between the 2 leaders’ time within the metropolis.
The UN’s 81st Basic Debate runs September 22–28 at UN headquarters in New York.
Iran, Gaza at middle of Trump’s UN agenda
Even and not using a Netanyahu assembly, Israel and the Center East are anticipated to function prominently throughout Trump’s UN go to.
US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz mentioned Trump plans to emphasize in his Basic Meeting handle that Iran mustn’t ever receive a nuclear weapon, whereas additionally highlighting what the administration views as progress underneath the president’s 20-point Gaza peace plan.
Iran can be anticipated to loom massive in Trump’s multilateral assembly with leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council. A senior US official mentioned Tehran could be “a key matter of dialog and diplomacy” all through the week.
The administration believes stress on Iran continues to mount, the official mentioned, arguing that Tehran’s leverage over the Strait of Hormuz is diminishing as various infrastructure and bypass routes come on-line, compounded by US navy and financial stress. “In a method or one other,” the official mentioned, Washington expects the Iranian regime to desert its pursuit of a nuclear weapon.
Officers added that US sanctions in opposition to Chinese language and Hong Kong entities accused of serving to Iran generate income – together with by oil-related exercise – would proceed.
Waltz additionally tied the UN gathering to Gaza, calling the annual session an unusually precious diplomatic alternative given the focus of world leaders in a single place.
Trump’s publicly introduced Tuesday schedule contains bilateral conferences with British Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, a sit-down with GCC leaders, and a reception for world leaders – however no assembly with Netanyahu. AP individually reported the deliberate conferences with Burnham, Takaichi and the Gulf leaders.
From New York to Xi Jinping assembly
Instantly after Trump’s UN look, the diplomatic highlight shifts to Washington, the place the president is about to host Chinese language President Xi Jinping for a three-day go to.
On Wednesday, Trump is scheduled to greet Xi and his spouse at Joint Base Andrews. The next day, Trump and First Woman Melania Trump are anticipated to formally welcome the Chinese language couple to the White Home; after an arrival ceremony, the 2 leaders will assessment a navy ceremony within the Rose Backyard earlier than holding bilateral talks. That night, the president and first girl will host the Chinese language delegation for a state dinner within the East Room.
On Friday, the 2 {couples} are anticipated to carry a personal tea on the White Home earlier than visiting the Nationwide Archives to view founding US paperwork because the nation marks its 250th anniversary.
The go to follows Trump’s assembly with Xi in China in Could; Trump had beforehand introduced Xi’s US go to for September 24.
A number of of essentially the most delicate points in US-China relations are anticipated to be on the desk. A senior White Home official confirmed that synthetic intelligence and the present US-China commerce truce can be mentioned, alongside commerce, AI, and rare-earth exports – all anticipated to function prominently in preparatory talks between senior US and Chinese language officers.
The administration additionally intends to press China over precursor chemical compounds utilized in fentanyl manufacturing, rare-earth provides, and the phrases underneath which Chinese language funding can enter the USA. The White Home made clear it doesn’t intend to commerce away US export controls in alternate for uncommon earths it believes Beijing has already dedicated to produce – although officers confirmed discussions have taken place over potential tariff reductions on a “slender band” of non-sensitive, non-strategic items.
Musk, Bezos, Altman, Cook dinner in the identical room
The state dinner’s visitor checklist is anticipated to attract practically as a lot consideration because the summit itself.
A senior White Home official mentioned anticipated attendees embody Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, Google CEO Sundar Pichai, Michael Dell, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Citigroup CEO Jane Fraser and Apple CEO Tim Cook dinner, alongside senior administration officers. “It will be a very talked-about and hot-ticketed occasion right here in Washington, DC,” the official mentioned.
A number of main tech executives are certainly anticipated to attend, whereas Reuters has reported that Xi might convey a considerable Chinese language enterprise delegation of his personal.
Throughout the span of some days, then, Trump will pivot from Iran, Gaza and the Gulf within the corridors of the United Nations to America’s most consequential strategic rivalry – with China, commerce, synthetic intelligence and Iran all converging on the White Home agenda.