Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is slated to depart on Thursday evening for a diplomatic visit to London, where he is to meet with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
The meeting will focus on the need to formulate a “united international front” against Iran in order to stop its nuclear program, according to a statement from Netanyahu’s office.
The leaders will also discuss strengthening strategic ties between Israel and the United Kingdom, including increasing security and intelligence cooperation, the war in Ukraine and broad developments in the Middle East.
Netanyahu is also scheduled to meet with British Home Secretary Suella Braverman to discuss the two countries’ common challenges in dealing with global terrorism.
On Tuesday, Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen was in London to press Jerusalem’s position on the Iranian threat and bolster bilateral economic ties.
The top Israeli diplomat signed an agreement called the 2030 Roadmap for U.K.-Israeli Bilateral Relations, which according to the British Foreign Office “contains detailed commitments for deepening cooperation across the breadth of the Israel-U.K. relationship, including on trade, cyber, science and tech, research and development, security, health, climate and gender.”
Netanyahu’s trip to the British capital comes on the heels of his visit last week to Berlin, where he met with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
At a Holocaust memorial, the premier made an indirect reference to Israel’s efforts to prevent Iran from threatening the Jewish state with nuclear weapons.
“The calls to destroy the Jewish people have not ended. The main lesson we have learned is that when we are faced with such evil, we must stop the evil plans early to prevent a disaster,” said Netanyahu.
As part of his diplomatic push against Iran since retaking office, Netanyahu also traveled to Paris in February to meet with French President Emmanuel Macron.
Netanyahu last month warned that history has shown that in the absence of a credible military threat or actual military action, Iran will become a nuclear power.
“The longer you wait, the harder that becomes. We’ve waited very long. I can tell you that I will do everything in my power to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. That is not merely an Israeli interest; it’s an American interest; it’s in the interest of the entire world,” he said.
