Netanyahu Says Israel Wants To End Dependence On US Military Aid
Netanyahu says Israel should replace American military aid with deeper strategic and defense cooperation.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he wants Israel to gradually phase out United States military aid over the next decade, signaling what he described as a shift from dependency to a more equal strategic partnership between the two allies. Netanyahu made the remarks during an interview aired Sunday on CBS’s 60 Minutes, where he stated that Israel had “come of age” and should aim to reduce reliance on American financial support for its defense sector.
The United States currently provides Israel with approximately $3.8 billion annually in military assistance under a 10-year agreement negotiated during the administration of former US President Barack Obama. The deal, which runs through 2028, remains one of the largest long-term military aid arrangements in US foreign policy. Netanyahu indicated that while he values the alliance with Washington, he believes the relationship should increasingly focus on collaboration rather than direct aid.
Speaking during the interview, Netanyahu said he would like to “draw down the American support for Israel to zero” over time. He added that Israel should move “from aid to partnership,” emphasizing expanded cooperation in intelligence-sharing, missile defense systems, and advanced weapons development. The Israeli leader suggested that both nations could benefit from joint defense projects rather than a traditional donor-recipient arrangement.
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US military support for Israel has long been a sensitive political issue, particularly following Israel’s military campaign in Gaza after the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023. The conflict intensified international scrutiny of American arms transfers and financial backing for Israel. Critics in the United States and abroad have questioned continued military assistance during the war, while supporters argue that Israel’s security partnership with Washington remains strategically essential in the Middle East.
According to a report by the Congressional Research Service, Israel has received more cumulative US foreign assistance than any other country since World War II. The total exceeds $174 billion in non-inflation-adjusted funding, covering military aid, economic support, and joint defense initiatives over several decades. The relationship has also contributed to the development of advanced missile defense systems and intelligence cooperation between the two nations.
Despite his comments about reducing direct aid, Netanyahu made clear that he expects military and technological cooperation with the United States to continue expanding. Earlier this year, Washington approved approximately $6.7 billion in arms sales to Israel, including AH-64E Apache attack helicopters and other military equipment. Netanyahu said Israel remains a global leader in defense innovation and expressed interest in increasing joint projects with the US in areas such as weapons systems, intelligence capabilities, and missile defense technology.
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