https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-israel-the-loser-from-us-houthi-truce-1001509685
The surprise in Israel at US President Donald Trump’s decision to reach a truce with the Houthi rebels in Yemen represents a predictable diplomatic failure. There is no disputing the fact that this US administration contains some extremely pro-Israel figures, but there is also no disputing the fact that the basis of their policy is putting the US first.
Trump, for his part, is not concerned about either Egypt or Israel. He seeks to serve US interests. The US is Israel’s best friend, but it doesn’t owe Israel anything. The US president released consignments of armaments that his predecessor Joe Biden blocked both because it served a close friend, Israel, and because it meant revenue for the US defense industry.
Next week, Trump will make a first visit to the Middle East, but, as currently planned, his tour will omit Israel. Its first stop will be Saudi Arabia, the US defense industry’s largest customer, accounting for 12% of all US arms exports between 2020 and 2024. He will also visit the UAE and Qatar. Israelis love to hate Qatar, to a large extent rightly, but Qatar hosts the important US military base at Al Udeid.
That outlook raises concerns about US military aid to Israel. Just as Israel has been complacent about US perception of the Iranian and Houthi threats, it is taking its time over negotiations on renewal of the agreement on US aid. The current memorandum, which came into force in 2019, expires in 2028, and a comparison with the negotiations on that agreement, which was signed in 2016, shows that Israel is currently behind schedule. As mentioned, the US doesn’t owe Israel anything, and if the current passive approach continues, in 2029, for the first time in 30 years, Israel could find itself with no guaranteed US military aid.
This threat of ending US aid has been around for decades.
ReplyDeleteAnd US needs profits from sales to Saudi, in order to afford to pay Israel.
What has Saudi Arabia been doing with its weapons? Fighting the houthis and Iran!
As far back as the 80's there have been economic analyses - what does the US give Israel and what would it cost the US to build a base on the Mediterranean that would replace all that Israel gives the US. And it turns out, Israel costs way less. They won't stop sending aid.
DeleteYo GI: in late 70s, US was desperate to get hands on MiG fighter jet.
DeleteIsrael managed to convince an Iraqi pilot to fly them one, fully operational. All it cost them was smuggling his wife and children to the west.
Was worth billions to US.