New US defense chief Hegseth speaks with Israel’s Netanyahu

Pete Hegseth speaks after being sworn in as the new US Secretary of Defense by Vice-President JD Vance at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building at the White House in Washington, DC, on January 25, 2025. (Photo by ROBERTO SCHMIDT / AFP)

WASHINGTON — US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday in the Pentagon chief’s first call with a foreign official since being sworn in.

Hegseth and Netanyahu “discussed the importance of advancing mutual security interests and priorities, especially in the face of persistent threats,” the Pentagon said in a statement.

“The secretary stressed that the United States is fully committed, under President (Donald) Trump’s leadership, to ensure that Israel has the capabilities it needs to defend itself,” according to the statement, which did not specify why Hegseth spoke with Netanyahu instead of his direct counterpart Israel Katz.

READ: Hegseth sworn in as US defense secretary

Hegseth was sworn in on Saturday after being narrowly confirmed by the US Senate the night before.

He was one of Trump’s most controversial cabinet nominees, facing allegations of alcohol abuse and sexual misconduct and concerns over his lack of experience leading a large organization.