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SLIDESHOW | images | 220608-N-SR275-1004 WASHINGTON (June 8, 2022) — Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday meets with Commander in Chief of the Israeli Navy Vice Adm. David Saar Salama during an office call at the Pentagon, June 8. The two leaders discussed topics of shared interest including force design, strategic competition, unmanned technologies, and regional security efforts. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class T. Logan Keown/Released)

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SLIDESHOW | images | 220609-N-SR275-1142 WASHINGTON (June 9, 2022) - Commander in Chief of the Israeli Navy Vice Adm. David Saar Salama receives a full-honors welcoming ceremony while visiting the Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday at the Washington Navy Yard, June 9. During the two-day visit, Salama also paid tribute at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and conducted meetings with senior U.S. Navy leadership to discuss topics of shared interest to include force design, strategic competition, and regional security efforts. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class T. Logan Keown/Released)

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SLIDESHOW | images | 220609-N-SR275-1171 WASHINGTON (June 9, 2022) - Commander in Chief of the Israeli Navy Vice Adm. David Saar Salama receives a full-honors welcoming ceremony while visiting the Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday at the Washington Navy Yard, June 9. During the two-day visit, Salama also paid tribute at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and conducted meetings with senior U.S. Navy leadership to discuss topics of shared interest to include force design, strategic competition, and regional security efforts. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class T. Logan Keown/Released)

WASHINGTON (NNS) – Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday hosted the Commander in Chief of the Israeli Navy, Vice Adm. David Saar Salama in Washington, D.C., for a formal counterpart visit, June 8-9.

The two leaders discussed several topics of shared interest including force design, strategic competition, unmanned technologies and regional security efforts.

The two-day visit included a full honors ceremony, meetings with senior U.S. Navy leadership, and a visit to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.

“Our strategic partnership with Israel is ironclad and enduring,” said Gilday. “United by our commitment to a rules-based international order, free and open seas, and advancing collective capabilities, our two navies have never been more aligned than they are today. I look forward to working closely with Adm. Salama to strengthen our partnership and interoperability.”

“The cooperation between the Israeli Navy and the U.S. Navy, led by my friend Adm. Mike Gilday, is another testament to the strength of the strategic partnership and friendship between the two navies,” said Salama. “The joint work with the U.S. Navy, especially with the Fifth and Sixth Fleets, will continue to yield many achievements for Israel and overall maritime security. Together, we will continue to face the challenges ahead in order to maintain stability at sea.”

U.S. Navy and Israeli Naval Forces regularly operate together around the world, particularly in the U.S. Fifth and Sixth Fleet Area of Operations. Most recently, the U.S. Navy and the Israeli Navy participated in Intrinsic Defender 22, a bilateral exercise focused on maritime security operations, explosive ordnance disposal, health topics and unmanned systems integration.

On September 1, 2021, the U.S. Department of Defense officially reorganized Israel within the area of responsibility (AOR) of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM).

This was the first meeting between Gilday and Salama.