Amir Baram, Director-General of the Israeli Defense Ministry, announced the indefinite delay of high-level Israeli delegation visits to Washington aimed at advancing a new 10-year memorandum of understanding with the United States. The suspension of these talks follows a visit by Baram to the IDF’s 9900th Unit.

Baram assumed the role of Defense Ministry Director-General in early 2025 and serves as the lead negotiator for Israel’s upcoming memorandum of understanding with the United States. The proposed agreement covers the period from 2028 to 2038. A planned visit by Israeli officials to Washington to advance memorandum of understanding talks was indefinitely delayed.

The current US-Israel MOU, signed in 2016, expires in 2028 and provides $3.3 billion annually for Israeli defense procurements, with an additional $500 million for air defense cooperation. The new US-Israel defense framework, set for 2029-2038, aims to transition from financial aid to a reciprocal partnership focused on joint research, development, and co-production of defense systems. Baram cited the US's 'America First' policy as a strategic challenge, stating it necessitates Israel's pursuit of an independent defense posture to align with US resource allocation priorities in Asia.

The war with Iran delayed the progress of memorandum of understanding talks until April 2026. In September 2025, Baram predicted another war with Iran at the Ministry of Finance Accountant General Conference. "Operation Rising Lion concluded with an unequivocal Israeli victory, yet additional confrontations with Iran are inevitable." Baram stated. He added that "The Iranian regime, operating from a position of strategic humiliation, is massively investing in security infrastructure and pursuing accelerated force-building initiatives." On July 1, Baram publicly stated that the Israel Defense Forces must be ready for long wars regardless of convenience.

The Israeli Defense Ministry's 2025 strategic priorities included enhancing long-term war-fighting capabilities, such as sustained combat operations and strategic depth, as outlined by Baram during a November 2025 conference. He spoke at a Defense Export Controls Agency conference in November 2025 regarding the ministry’s strategic priorities for defense exports. Baram has served in the Israel Defense Forces or as Defense Ministry Director-General for 38 years.

In 2012, he reinstated full brigade parachute training and led a team in its first full parachute exercise in 15 years. Baram previously served as the Deputy Chief of General Staff, commander of the Northern Command, commander of the IDF Military Colleges, commander of the 91st Division, commander of 98th Paratroopers Division and commander of the Paratroopers Brigade. On July 17, 2026, Baram visited the IDF’s 9900th Unit accompanied by the unit’s commander and Avi Berger, head of the Space Directorate within the Defense Ministry’s Directorate of Defense, Research & Development.