US Military Aid to Israel to Be Halved, Phased Out by 2031
Translated & summarized from Vesty by baba
US military aid to Israel will be halved and phased out over five years, concluding by 2031, according to a new security memorandum. This follows a statement by President Donald Trump suggesting aid would end in 2026. The annual aid package will be reduced from $3.3 billion to $1.65 billion for five years after 2028, before ceasing. Funding for air defense systems will increase. The new agreement requires approval from the current US Congress by December 2026.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- US military aid to Israel will be halved and phased out over five years, ending by 2031.
- The annual aid package will be reduced from $3.3 billion to $1.65 billion for five years after 2028.
- Funding for joint air and missile defense system development will increase.
- A new security memorandum requires approval from the current US Congress by December 2026.
- President Donald Trump's earlier claim of aid ending in 2026 was reportedly a political statement.
- Concerns exist about potential difficulties in aid approval from the next US Congress.
US military aid to Israel will not cease immediately but will be halved and phased out over five years, according to details of a security memorandum of understanding revealed on Monday, November 9. The sum allocated for air defense system development, however, will increase from $500 million to an undisclosed amount. This clarification follows a November 3 statement by President Donald Trump to Fox News, where he claimed to have agreed with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to end military aid at the close of 2026. The goal is to finalize a new agreement before the new Congress is sworn in January 2027, after Republicans lost their majority.
Negotiations are underway, with US representatives including Secretary of State Marco Rubio's team, and Israeli representatives from the Defense Ministry and the Israeli Embassy in Washington. Israeli negotiators were reportedly shocked by Trump's earlier statement, which a senior Israeli source assessed as being made for domestic political reasons to aid a Republican candidate in Michigan during the midterm elections. That candidate ultimately lost to Abdul El-Sayed.
The source suggested Trump did not fully grasp the details of the evolving agreement, and his "help" had no real impact. The impression of an immediate halt was mistaken; the aid is to be gradually reduced over five years, effectively halving the total amount. Currently, Israel receives $3.3 billion annually for ten years ($33 billion total), which will be reduced to the same annual sum for five years ($16.5 billion total) before aid ceases entirely. This five-year countdown begins after 2028, with the previous memorandum remaining in effect until then.
Of the current $3.8 billion annual aid package, $3.3 billion is Foreign Military Financing (FMF) for purchasing US military equipment. The remaining $500 million is for missile defense cooperation, including systems like Iron Dome and David's Sling. The increase in air defense funding reflects growing drone and missile threats. A source familiar with the details noted that some in Congress oppose aid reductions, as it would impact American industry. Senators reportedly questioned Israelis, "Are you crazy?" The source explained Israel is shifting from an aid model to a partnership model, emphasizing that defense aid largely benefits the US economy.
The new memorandum, detailing the halved aid and five-year phase-out, is expected to be presented to the current Congress for approval by December 2026. Concerns remain about the next Congress, potentially creating difficulties and delays in aid approval, especially for the period after 2028. The composition of Israel's next government could influence congressional approval, with warnings from the Democratic Party that continued leadership by Netanyahu might jeopardize future aid.
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