US President Donald Trump has announced plans to end Washington’s $3.8 billion annual military assistance to Israel, saying the country no longer needs the financial support.
Trump made the announcement on Tuesday during an interview on the US television programme Fox and Friends, saying he had reached an agreement with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to end the assistance.
Under a 10-year security assistance agreement, Israel receives about $3.8 billion annually from the United States to purchase military equipment and weapons. The arrangement, which began in 2019, is due to run until 2028.
“Israel was fine with it,” Trump said, adding that Washington would still support the country if it needed assistance.
“We’ll help Israel if they need it,” he said.
Trump described Israel as America’s leading ally and argued that the country no longer required the annual funding.
“If they did need it, I would say keep it going,” he added.
Netanyahu previously called for reduced US dependence
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has previously expressed interest in reducing his country’s reliance on American military assistance.
In June, Netanyahu called for Israel to strengthen its military independence and reduce its dependence on Washington.
He also told The Economist in January that he hoped to achieve the goal within a decade. In an interview with US broadcaster CBS in May, he said he wanted American assistance to reach “zero”.
Trump also cited criticism from Abdul El-Sayed, a left-wing Democratic candidate contesting Tuesday’s US midterm elections, as part of his reasoning for ending the aid.
“Why should we suffer the slings from lunatics like an El-Sayed when they don’t need it?” Trump said.
According to figures from the Council on Foreign Relations, Israel has received more than $300 billion in US economic and military assistance, adjusted for inflation, since its establishment in 1948.
