An Israeli tank is seen near the in Israel and Gaza border, Israel, Friday, Oct. 5, 2018. (File photo: AP)
WASHINGTON, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- US President Donald Trump on Saturday said a mutual defense treaty with Israel is under consideration, which would strengthen US defense ties with the Middle East country.
Trump tweeted that he had a call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "to discuss the possibility of moving forward with a Mutual Defense Treaty," adding he is looking forward to "continuing those discussions after the Israeli Elections."
The phone call came days before Israel's election, in which Netanyahu's party is in close contest with the opposition party Blue and White.
According to the US State Department, the United States is currently member to seven collective defense treaties, including the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the Southeast Asia Treaty, the Rio treaty, a defense treaty with Australia and New Zealand, and bilateral treaties with Japan, South Korea and the Philippines.
