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Foreign Secretary Liz Truss and Israel’s Foreign Minister Yair Lapid on Monday morning signed a joint memorandum of understanding to elevate the UK-Israel relationship to a Strategic Partnership.
In an “historic” 10 year plan, the new agreement will repeat a pledge Foreign Secretary Truss made in her speech at CFI’s Conservative Party Conference reception for closer cooperation cybersecurity, technology, defence, trade and science.
The two counterparts confirmed that talks on a Free Trade Agreement are also set to continue early next year. Announcing the agreement, Foreign Secretary Truss tweeted: “My friend @yairlapid and I have signed an agreement to take the UK-Israel relationship into a bold new era. Our likeminded democracies will work more closely on: Science and tech; Trade, investment and development; Security and cyber”.
Foreign Secretary Truss and Foreign Minister Lapid co-wrote an article published in the Telegraph setting out how they will work to deepen the partnership over the next decade.
They wrote: “Many fear the skies are darkening worldwide due to the pandemic, the threat of terrorism and hostile actors seeking the upper hand. But we believe that, with the right approach, freedom and democracy will prevail. That is why Israel and the United Kingdom are today coming together in London to take a major step forward: transforming our close friendship into an even closer partnership by formally agreeing a new strategic plan for the next decade, spanning cyber, tech, trade and defence”.
The article continued: “This pact will spur technological breakthroughs, which have the potential to change the world, create high-quality jobs in both our countries and provide tools to our security forces. But more than that, it is a victory for optimism”.
The article also welcomed the Abraham Accords, stating, “There is no greater sign of what can be achieved through open dialogue than the Abraham Accords”, as well as vowing to “work night and day to prevent the Iranian regime from ever becoming a nuclear power”. The two counterparts emphasised: “Israel and the UK are the closest of friends, and today we become even closer. Together we ensure the future is defined by liberal democracies who believe in freedom and fairness”.
