Israeli Defense Chief Warns Budget Delays Could Accelerate Iran's Military Build-Up
Amir Baram, CEO of Israel's Ministry of Defense and retired general, spoke at the 22nd Herzliya Conference hosted by the Institute for Policy and Strategy at Reichman University on Wednesday. He issued a stark warning about ongoing budget delays that have stalled the implementation of Israel's 10-year, 350 billion shekel military build-up plan approved by the Prime Minister and Defense Minister. Baram described the delays as dangerously setting back Israel's long-term defense readiness, criticizing the Finance Ministry's Budget Department for treating the military's needs as a "passing accounting event," which undermines government decisions on strategic force development.
Baram highlighted the threat posed by Iran, noting that Tehran is expected to invest massive sums in military capabilities in the second half of 2026, comparable to Israel's entire decade-long plan. He warned that if Israel continues bureaucratic delays, its security preparedness will face significant risks. He also cautioned that emerging international agreements could funnel hundreds of billions of dollars to Iran, dramatically accelerating its military build-up. To counter this, Israel must advance a tailored force build-up and promote a new regional security architecture, primarily with its strategic ally, the United States.
Addressing U.S.-Israel relations, Baram urged understanding of American policy through a global strategic lens rather than a provincial one. He explained that while Israel views Iran as an existential threat, the U.S. sees it as a chronic regional challenge, with its main focus on China and the Indo-Pacific. The Pentagon's stretched resources between ongoing conflicts and potential Taiwan contingencies mean prolonged Middle East wars run counter to U.S. global stability interests. However, Baram emphasized that the U.S. deeply dislikes losing conflicts it believes it has already won, underscoring the importance of a strong, independent Israel that stabilizes the Middle East and enables the U.S. to shift resources to Asia. This forms the basis for the next U.S.-Israel security partnership agreement currently being developed, aiming to deliver mutual security, economic, and strategic benefits.
Baram also addressed concerns about Israel's interceptor missile production rates, revealing that over the past year he has used all emergency powers to overcome supply bottlenecks without additional budget support. Measures included critical cross-continental procurement of raw materials, export deals expanding local production lines, and recruitment of dedicated industry personnel. Thanks to these emergency actions, Israel now maintains a growing stockpile of Arrow, David's Sling, and Iron Dome interceptors even amid ongoing conflict, though Baram stressed that the work is not yet complete.
