Last week, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth released the 2026 National Defense Strategy (NDS), a Pentagon blueprint that elevates Israel to a “model ally” and translates President Trump’s national security doctrine into concrete military policy.
“Israel has long demonstrated that it is willing and able to defend itself with critical but limited support from the United States. Israel is an exemplary ally, and we now have an opportunity to further enable the country to defend itself and advance our shared interests, building on President Trump’s historic efforts to secure peace in the Middle East.” NDS states.
The document is now influencing parallel debates over the future of U.S. security assistance to Israel and whether the next Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) should continue to provide traditional U.S. military assistance to Israel, amid dissenting voices portraying the alliance as a burden rather than a strategic asset.
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According to the strategy, Israel proved its ability and willingness to defend itself after the October 7 attacks, demonstrating that it is not a passive partner, but an operational force that supports US interests in the region. The strategy emphasizes strengthening capable allies rather than limiting them, and builds on President Trump’s previous push for regional integration through the Abraham Accords.
Israeli F-15 fighter jets escorted two American B-52 bombers through Israeli airspace on Sunday. (Israeli Armed Forces)
Jonathan Ruhe, director of foreign policy at the Jewish Institute for National Security of America, said the strategy reflects a broader American shift toward partnerships that strengthen both American security and domestic industry.
He said a future deal would likely go beyond just financing. “A new MOU would also likely be broader and include things that are more of a 50-50 partnership, like joint research and development, co-production, intelligence sharing and things like that to reflect the evolving partnership going forward,” Ruhe said.
The strategy also emphasizes the importance of revitalizing the U.S. defense industrial base, noting that allies purchasing U.S. systems help strengthen domestic manufacturing while enabling partners to take on greater responsibility for regional security.
Avner Golov, vice president of Israeli think tank Mind Israel, said the document makes clear that Israel is not just seen as a recipient of aid: “Israel is in the fight. We are only protecting ourselves. We just need the means to do that. And by doing that, we are strengthening America’s position not only in the Middle East, but also globally and contributing to the American economy.”
That framework comes as Israel and the United States prepare to negotiate the upcoming 10-year MOU, which will govern U.S. military aid to Israel. The current agreement, signed in 2016, provides $3.3 billion annually in foreign military financing, along with $500 million annually for missile defense cooperation.
The Commander of United States Central Command (CENTCOM), Admiral Brad Cooper, recently visited Israel as the official guest of Chief of the General Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir. Cooper and Zamir had an extended one-on-one meeting. This was followed by a meeting attended by additional commanders. The IDF says the meeting serves as a new expression of the relationship between the commanders and represents an additional step in strengthening the close strategic relationship between the IDF and the US military and in strengthening defense cooperation between the two nations. (IDF Spokespersons Unit.)
The debate follows tensions during the Biden administration, when the White House halted deliveries of certain U.S. weapons to Israel in May 2024, including a 2,000-pound shipment of bombs. At the time, Netanyahu warned that Israel “will stand alone” if Washington halts arms deliveries, reflecting concerns that restrictions or delays in US military support could undermine Israel’s preparedness and deterrence.
Experts have noted that American leaders have not always approved every Israeli weapons request and that roughly 70% of Israel’s military imports come from the United States, underscoring the strategic calculus behind Prime Minister Netanyahu’s recent push for greater independent production.
Golov criticized that approach, arguing that it risks prioritizing optics over preparedness. “I believe this is a short-term view,” Golov said. “In the long term, Israel must first be prepared for the next round of escalation. If we are not ready, we will face another war. If we are prepared, we may be able to deter it.”
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President Donald Trump speaks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Ben Gurion International Airport before boarding his plane to Sharm El-Sheikh, on October 13, 2025 in Tel Aviv, Israel (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
“Israel must remain the strongest military in the region, and that is also a fundamental American interest,” Golov said.
Ruhe said the debate reflects lessons learned from nearly two years of war. “You now have this kind of world turned upside down, where the Israelis say we don’t want to take any more American money, and the Americans say, no, you’re going to take our money,” he said.
According to Ruhe, the conflict has exposed vulnerabilities created by heavy dependence on US supply chains and political delays.
“The war of the past two years has shown that Israel cannot afford to be so dependent on the US or maintain the same defense partnership it already has, because that creates dependence,” he said. “Israel becomes vulnerable to U.S. weapons production shortages or politically motivated embargoes and raids that could affect Israel’s readiness.”
At the same time, Ruhe noted that Israel remains dependent on the United States for major platforms.
“Even Israel will say that we are completely dependent on the US for those big platforms,” he said, pointing to aircraft such as the F-15 and F-35 that Israel has already agreed to buy.
For that reason, Ruhe argued that maintaining stable funding under the next MOU could be the most practical path forward.
“It’s actually much easier for Congress to just approve that money,” he said, explaining that predictable funding reduces annual political battles on Capitol Hill.
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An Israeli fighter jet takes off to launch airstrikes against the Houthis in Yemen. (IDF)
Golov said Israel’s long-term goal should not be to reduce ties with Washington, but to deepen them. “I don’t want to reduce dependency,” he said. “I want to increase the contribution to America.”
He described the emerging vision as a fundamental change in the way the alliance is structured. “We are moving from a 20th century aid model to a 21st century strategic merger,” Golov said. “Israel is the only partner that delivers a 400% return on investment without asking for a single American soldier.”
Golov said the proposed framework is built around three pillars: a defense industrial ecosystem, a joint technology ecosystem and a regional ecosystem connecting Israeli innovation, Gulf infrastructure and American power.
He emphasized that maintaining U.S. security assistance during the transition period is critical.
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This photo taken from Israel’s southern border with the Gaza Strip shows Israeli military vehicles along the border with the Palestinian territory on April 24, 2024, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the militant group Hamas. ((Photo by JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images))
“We need a final 10-year ‘bridge’ with the current MOU for security assistance,” Golov said. “A sudden cut would send a dangerous signal of U.S. retreat to our enemies and could hamper the IDF’s preparedness.”
“I don’t know who the next president of the United States will be,” he added. “This is where our enemies can read it in a very dangerous way.”
