Israel’s Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer arrived in Washington on Monday for talks with senior Biden administration officials, marking the first visit to the United States by a member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's new government since it took office in late December.

Dermer, a close confidant of Netanyahu and former ambassador to the United States, was set to meet with senior White House and State Department officials on Monday before heading to Miami, Florida, for an honorary dinner with local Jewish organizations, two Israeli sources told Al-Monitor. His visit was first reported earlier on Monday by journalist Barak Ravid.

The meetings in Washington will reportedly focus on Iran, the Palestinian issue and expanding the Abraham Accords between Israel and its Arab neighbors. A spokesperson for the US National Security Council declined to confirm the visit.

Why it matters: Dermer is considered Netanyahu's closest associate within the new Cabinet, and is likely to play a key role in its effort to sustain good ties with the Biden administration, which has warned the new right-wing government against any attempt to annex parts of the West Bank.