President Trump's bold vision for the Middle East creates a historic opportunity to bring the US-Israel alliance into a new era. Following recent policies that undermined Israel, the new Administration understands that a strong Israel advances critical U.S. security and economic interests. What's needed now is a comprehensive new doctrine to formalize America’s strategic priorities in the its partnership with Israel.
The economic case for strengthening the partnership is compelling. U.S. military aid to Israel, approximately $3.8 billion annually, generates tens of billions of dollars in economic gains for the U.S. economy through Israel’s purchases of U.S. goods and services. These bilateral transactions fund as many as 70,000 American jobs.
The benefits extend far beyond direct military sales. Israel’s battlefield testing and improvements to America’s F-35 aircraft, tanks, and drones have already saved the U.S. military billions of dollars in R&D costs while accelerating America’s technology innovation cycles. And Israel’s transfer of its military technologies to the U.S., including the Trophy tank protection system and Iron Dome components, provides American forces with the world’s most advanced battle-proven capabilities at a fraction of their development costs.
Perhaps most significantly, Israel's military presence in the Middle East allows the U.S. to avoid interventions that could cost billions of dollars every year, as well as potential losses of American assets and lives.
Congress should also compare the relatively small cost of U.S. appropriations for Israel to the roughly $100 billion it authorizes annually to maintain bases in Europe and Asia. In return for America’s investment, Israel ensures that it rather than the U.S. plays the lead role in containing Iranian aggression, including against the U.S. In addition, Israel’s determined degrading of terrorist capabilities in the region represents estimated savings for America in the tens of billions of dollars. The partnership also yields substantial benefits for the U.S. in cybersecurity and intelligence sharing—priorities that President Trump has identified as crucial to American security.
A new US-Israel doctrine should codify the relationship through key elements that align with the new Administration's objectives.
First, President Trump’s foreign policy favors strong allies who contribute to regional security rather than free-ride on American protection. The new doctrine should explicitly recognize Israel as a “sovereign strategic partner” that provides the U.S. with huge returns on its investments in the alliance. In fact, Israel is far from a dependent state, and American leaders will benefit by making this clear to American voters.
Second, the doctrine should formalize frameworks for enhanced cooperation in critical technology development, cybersecurity, and intelligence sharing. These provisions would help both nations address emerging threats while fostering innovation in key sectors.
Finally, the new doctrine should include robust measures to counter shared adversaries, particularly Iran and its proxy forces, through sanctions and other coordinated strategies.
Critics of the previous administration's Middle East policy point to the failures of distancing from Israel, which emboldened the adversaries of both Israel and the U.S., and produced nothing positive in return.
Today, Israel's military and intelligence capabilities, combined with its growing network of regional relationships, creates opportunities to expand American influence across the Middle East. A new doctrine would build on this momentum by supporting the extension of agreements like the Abraham Accords to additional nations.
Under the new doctrine, Israel could also help provide tools to counter China's growing influence in the Middle East, particularly through the establishment of secure trade routes that could serve as alternatives to China’s expansionist Belt and Road Initiative. The doctrine would also strengthen measures against terrorist financing and support networks operating within the United States—priorities that President Trump emphasized throughout his campaign.
Formalizing and strengthening the US-Israel partnership will result in tens of billions of dollars in annual benefits for America, far in excess of its investments in the relationship. The returns from direct military and security cooperation are obvious, but they are compounded from collaboration in medical technology, scientific research, and commercial partnerships.
Formalizing the US relationship with Israel through a new doctrine will promote the reality of the US-Israel alliance as it stands today, and makes the strengthened relationship clear for all Americans and the world to see. It will also create a better framework for expanding mutual benefits. The update to our economic, diplomatic and security architecture will serve both nations even better, while improving regional stability and elevating American global leadership.
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