In a sign of increased ties between the United States and Israel, a meeting of the joint Defense Policy Advisory Group took place in Tel Aviv on Wednesday, June 27, to discuss ways to ensure Israel’s qualitative military edge in the region, The Jerusalem Post reported. The main focus of the talks was the West’s ongoing standoff with Iran over its nuclear program as well as the instability in Syria and Israeli concerns that Syria’s sophisticated weaponry and chemical arsenal will fall into rogue hands. Discussions were also expected to focus on continued U.S. support for Israel’s missile defense systems. In October, the U.S. and Israel will hold a massive missile defense exercise called Austere Challenge in the framework of which America will deploy PAC-3 and Aegis defense systems in the country.