Trump’s Israel aid cut reveals push to trade grants for tech cooperation
The close defence relationship between the United States and Israel is set to be restructured over the coming two years, with billions of dollars in direct annual military aid being phased out in favour of joint weapons technology programmes. US President Donald Trump shocked Israelis and Americans alike on Tuesday by suddenly announcing that the roughly US$4 billion a year in direct military…
US President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that the United States would cut off its roughly US$4 billion annual military aid to Israel by the end of the year, in a move that experts suggest is part of a broader shift in defence relations between the two countries. This decision, made just before the US midterm elections, comes as Israel and the US negotiate a new 10-year memorandum of understanding (MOU) to replace the current one, which expires in September 2028.
The restructuring is said to reflect a push for joint weapons technology programmes over direct military aid, with the Pentagon potentially absorbing these funds through programmes classified as "cooperation" rather than foreign aid. This shift is viewed as an attempt by Trump to address political pressure from Democrats who won majorities in both the Senate and House of Representatives in the recent midterm elections.
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