A Joint Statement in the field of AI was signed on Friday by Israel’s Head of the National AI Directorate, Brig. -Gen. (Res.) Erez Eskel and the US Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg, according to a Prime Minister’s office press release.
The month prior, Israel had joined the Pax Silica initiative, which unites leading nations in AI, and was selected as the first of nine leading nations to sign a Joint Statement with the US.
In addition to Eskel and Helberg, Foreign Affairs Minister Gideon Sa’ar and US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee were also in attendance.
The importance of American-Israeli relationship
Sa’ar spoke on the importance of the US-Israel relationship for both countries and praised Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for forming the National AI Agency.
“Today's statement is further proof of the undeniable fact: Just as the United States is indispensable for Israel, Israel is an indispensable asset for America and its National Security interests,” Sa’ar said.
Huckabee also discussed the importance and unique nature of the two countries’ relationship.
“I often say that America has many friends and allies, but we have only one true partner in Israel,” Huckabee said. “Israel and the United States and Israel intend to continue their deep, durable partnership through joint research, development, investment, and commercialization across a broad range of strategic sectors.”