Trump’s ending of military aid to Israel: what difference could it make?
.jpg?trim=0,0,0,0&width=1200&height=800&crop=1200:800)
A change in longstanding support
The United States has been Israel’s leading ally, and Israel has received more than $300 billion in cumulative US economic and military aid, according to the Council on Foreign Relations. The existing Memorandum of Understanding began in 2019 and was due to expire in 2028.
Trump announced that Washington would end military aid by the end of 2026. The account also says he and Netanyahu agreed to stop support “by the end of the year,” leaving the reported timing unclear. It places the announcement two days before a midterm election in which Republicans suffered a major defeat.
Netanyahu’s case for change
Netanyahu said in May that he wanted to reduce Israel’s dependence on US military support. He told CBS’s 60 Minutes, “I want to start now.” Trump said the Israeli leader had raised the idea months earlier.
Gregg Roman, executive director of the Middle East Forum, said ending aid could give Israel greater control over its purchases and production. He described the shift as moving “from aid to partnership,” including arms sales, co-production, intelligence sharing and joint operations. Netanyahu’s office said the decision reflected the “strength” of the US-Israeli relationship.
Costs and cooperation to watch
Israel may need to find $3.8 billion in its budget to maintain current capabilities, according to an expert quoted in the account. Options include shifting money from other government spending or borrowing more. A State Department document sent to Congress, reviewed by the Wall Street Journal, says Israel would need $10 billion for outstanding orders, despite about $7 billion in aid already pledged over the next two years.
Most military financing supports purchases of US aircraft, including F-15s, F-16s, F-35s and KC-46 tankers. Separately, about $500 million supports missile defence projects such as Iron Dome, David’s Sling and Arrow; the account says that funding area could be affected. Ynet cited Israeli assessments that around one million American households tied to weapons production could also feel an impact.
Key points
- Israel has received more than $300 billion in US economic and military aid since its founding.
- The reported cutoff timing is inconsistent: the account cites both the end of 2026 and the end of the year.
- Ending aid could leave Israel searching for billions of dollars to cover weapons purchases and outstanding orders.
- Arms sales, missile defence cooperation and intelligence sharing may continue despite the change.