Trump strategy calls Israel ‘model ally’ in new national defense doctrine

Last week, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth released the 2026 National Defense Strategy (NDS), a Pentagon plan that extols Israel as a “model ally” and translates President Trump’s national security doctrine into concrete military policy.

“Israel has long demonstrated that it is both willing and able to defend itself with the critical but limited support it receives from the United States. Israel is an exemplary ally, and now we have the opportunity to further strengthen it by building on President Trump’s historic efforts to secure peace in the Middle East to defend itself and promote our common interests.” NDS states.

The document is currently influencing parallel discussions about the future of US security assistance to Israel and whether the next Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) will continue to provide conventional US military assistance to Israel; dissenting voices portray the alliance as a liability rather than a strategic asset.

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According to the strategy, Israel demonstrated its ability and willingness to defend itself after the October 7 attacks, demonstrating that it is not a passive partner but an operational force supporting US interests in the region. The strategy emphasizes strengthening, rather than constraining, capable allies, building on President Trump’s earlier push for regional integration through the Abraham Accords.

Jonathan Ruhe, foreign policy director for the Jewish National Security Institute of America, said the strategy reflects a broader American drive toward partnerships that strengthen both U.S. security and domestic industry.

“The defense aid that the United States provides to Israel under the Memorandum of Understanding is spent in dollars to support our industry here in America,” Ruhe told Fox News Digital. “And as with its national security strategy, it allows Israel to do more to protect U.S. interests.”

He said a future deal would likely go beyond financing alone. “A new MoU would likely be broader and include more than 50-50 partnerships, such as joint research and development, joint production, intelligence sharing and things like that that will reflect the changing partnership going forward,” Ruhe said. he said.

The strategy also underscores the importance of revitalizing the American defense industrial base, noting that allies purchasing U.S. systems can help strengthen domestic production while allowing partners to assume greater responsibility for regional security.

Avner Golov, vice president of the Israeli think tank Mind Israel, stated that the document clearly shows that Israel is not seen only as a country that receives aid and said, “Israel is in the struggle. We are protecting ourselves. We just need the tools to do this. And by doing this, we strengthen America’s position not only in the Middle East but also around the world and contribute to the American economy.”

This framework emerged as Israel and the United States prepare for negotiations on the next 10-year Memorandum of Understanding governing U.S. military assistance to Israel. The current agreement, signed in 2016, provides $3.3 billion in annual foreign military financing as well as $500 million annually for missile defense cooperation.

US Central Command Commander (CENTCOM) Admiral Brad Cooper recently visited Israel as the official guest of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir. Cooper and Zamir had a long one-on-one meeting. This was followed by a meeting attended by other commanders. The IDF says the meeting serves as another expression of the relationship between the commanders and represents an additional step in developing the close strategic relationship between the IDF and the US military and strengthening defense cooperation between the two countries. (IDF Spokesperson Unit.)

The debate followed tensions during the Biden administration, when the White House paused deliveries of some US weapons to Israel in May 2024, including a shipment of 2,000 pounds of bombs. At the time, Netanyahu warned that Israel would be “left alone” if Washington halted arms deliveries; this reflected concern that limitations or delays in US military support could weaken Israel’s preparedness and deterrence.

Experts note that US leaders do not always approve every Israeli arms request and that approximately 70% of Israel’s military imports come from the US, underscoring the strategic calculation behind Prime Minister Netanyahu’s latest move towards more independent production.

Golov criticized this approach, arguing that it risked prioritizing optics over readiness. “I believe this is a short-term vision,” Golov said. “In the long term, Israel first needs to be prepared for the next tension. If we are not ready, we will face another war. If we are prepared, maybe we can deter it.”

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President Donald Trump speaks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Ben Gurion International Airport before boarding his flight to Sharm el-Sheikh on October 13, 2025 in Tel Aviv, Israel. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

“Israel must remain the strongest army in the region, and this is also one of America’s core interests,” Golov said. he said.

Ruhe said the debate reflects lessons learned from nearly two years of war. “We’re facing a messy world where the Israelis are saying we don’t want to take any more money from the United States, and the Americans are saying no, you’ll 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 last two years has shown that Israel cannot afford to be so dependent on the United States or to continue the defense partnership that it has, because it creates a dependency,” he said. “Israel becomes vulnerable to U.S. arms production shortages or politically motivated embargoes and blockades that could affect Israel’s preparedness.”

Ruhe also noted that Israel remains dependent on the United States for major platforms.

Pointing to aircraft such as the F-15 and F-35 that Israel has already committed to purchase, he said, “Even Israel will say that we are completely dependent on the United States for these large platforms.”

Therefore, Ruhe argued that maintaining stable financing under the next MoU may be the most practical way forward.

“It’s actually a lot easier for Congress to approve this money,” he said, explaining that predictable funding reduces annual political conflict on Capitol Hill.

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Israeli warplane carried out an air strike against the Houthis in Yemen. (IDF)

Golov said Israel’s long-term goal should be to deepen ties with Washington, not reduce them. “I don’t want to reduce addiction,” he said. “I want to increase my contribution to America.”

He described the resulting vision as a fundamental change in the structuring of the alliance. “We are moving from the aid model of the 20th century to the strategic unification of the 21st century,” Golov said. “Israel is the only partner that has achieved a 400% return on investment without requiring a single American soldier.”

Golov said the proposed framework is built around three pillars: an industrial defense ecosystem, a common technology ecosystem, and a regional ecosystem connecting Israeli innovation, Gulf infrastructure, and American power.

He emphasized that it is critical to maintain US security assistance during the transition period.

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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 territories on April 24, 2024, amid ongoing conflict between Israel and the militant group Hamas. ((Photo: JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images))

“We need a ‘bridge’ between the current security assistance Memorandum and the last decade,” Golov said. “A sudden disruption could be a dangerous signal that America is retreating toward our enemies and could hinder the IDF’s readiness.”

“I don’t know who the next president of the United States will be,” he added. “This is where our enemies can read this in a very dangerous way.”