US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich have agreed to strengthen dialogue and collaboration on the two countries' economic partnership. The joint statement emphasized the need for a coordinated approach to ensure economic resilience and mutual benefit. The meeting marked the first in-person talks between Smotrich and a Trump administration official, potentially impacting US policy toward Israeli settlements. The statement made no mention of Israel's banking relationships with Palestinian banks, which had been a point of contention under the Biden administration.