RealClearWorld | Gregg Roman
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a 350 billion shekel ($120 billion) investment in its domestic defense industry over the next decade, confirming plans to phase out U.S. military aid. Washington and Jerusalem are preparing formal talks for a successor framework to zero out Foreign Military Financing (FMF) by 2038, led by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Israeli Defense Ministry Director General Amir Baram. The 2016 Memorandum of Understanding already initiated a phaseout, with Off-Shore Procurement ending in FY2028. Israel's defense exports hit a record $14.79 billion in 2024, indicating its robust defense capabilities. To manage this transition and prevent "drift," the article outlines four critical steps: signing the successor framework by FY2027, doubling U.S. missile defense allocation to $1 billion annually, reforming International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) for tier-one allies, and Israel building institutional infrastructure like a Defense Industrial Transition Authority and a Defense Export Credit Agency. This structured approach aims to strengthen the U.S.-Israel relationship through joint capability investment rather than grant subsidy.
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