Full Breakdown
Israel’s Finance Minister Seeks to Broaden Isaac Accords in Washington
6/1/2026, 5:56:30 AM
Core Diplomatic Mission: Smotrich’s Washington Meetings
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich arrived in Washington on Saturday night for a “marathon” of meetings with leaders of Latin American nations. The itinerary, described as intensive, aims to expand the Isaac Accords—a diplomatic-economic framework that mirrors the Abraham Accords. Smotrich is slated to return to Israel as early as Wednesday after concluding discussions with key U.S. and Latin American officials.
Genesis of the Isaac Accords
The Isaac Accords were launched in November 2025 following a bilateral meeting in Buenos Aires between Argentine President Javier Milei and Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar. The initiative was positioned as a vehicle to deepen strategic engagement between Israel, the United States, and participating Latin American states. Financially, the accords rely on the U.S. $1 million Genesis Prize grant awarded to President Milei in June of the previous year.
Participating Nations and Strategic Focus
At present, the framework includes Argentina, Uruguay, Panama, and Costa Rica. Cooperation under the accords centers on the export of Israeli defense systems and military technology, with three primary application areas:
1. Maritime security – enhancing naval capabilities against illicit trafficking.
2. Police force modernization – upgrading law-enforcement equipment and training.
3. Combatting organized crime and narco-terrorism – providing tools to disrupt transnational criminal networks.
These focus areas reflect the accords’ emphasis on security-related economic collaboration.
Timeline of Key Developments
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| June 2024 | Genesis Prize grant of US $1 million awarded to President Milei. |
| June 11 2025 | President Milei addresses the Knesset plenary in Jerusalem, pledging Argentine leadership in the new framework. |
| November 2025 | Formal launch of the Isaac Accords after Milei-Sa’ar meeting in Buenos Aires. |
| Saturday night, 2025 | Finance Minister Smotrich departs for Washington to meet Latin American leaders. |
| Wednesday, 2025 | Expected return of Smotrich to Israel. |
Official Statements & Responses
Israeli officials have framed the Isaac Accords as a “strategic partnership” that extends Israel’s security cooperation model to the Western Hemisphere. President Milei described Argentina’s role as that of a “pioneer” working alongside the United States to deepen engagement with Israel across multiple strategic fields. Israeli officials have not released additional comments on the specific outcomes of Smotrich’s Washington meetings.
Verbatim Quote
> “Argentina will serve as a ‘pioneer’ alongside the United States in promoting the new framework, a vehicle to deepen engagement with Israel across a range of strategic fields.” — Javier Milei, President of Argentina
Future Steps and Expected Outcomes
The Washington trip is intended to secure commitments from additional Latin American partners and to solidify defense-technology contracts under the accord’s three focus areas. If successful, the initiative could expand beyond the current four signatories, creating a broader network of security-focused economic ties between Israel, the United States, and Latin America. Further details on prospective agreements are expected to emerge after Smotrich’s return and subsequent diplomatic briefings.
