The current agreement, signed in 2016 during the tenure of former U.S. President Barack Obama, is set to expire in 2028. Tel Aviv seeks to finalize the new agreement by 2026, despite political and technical complexities related to opposition from some American factions towards foreign aid and positions on the Gaza War. Previously, Washington and Tel Aviv signed three ten-year security agreements in 1998, 2008, and 2016, with values ranging from $21 to $38 billion. In 2024, Congress approved an additional aid package worth billions of dollars during the Gaza War.
Israeli officials hope to increase aid within the new agreement, despite the current administration under President Donald Trump reducing foreign aid. Negotiations for the new security memorandum of understanding were delayed due to the Gaza War but have recently resumed. Israel has proposed two suggestions: extending the agreement duration to 20 years and allocating part of the funds for joint research in military technology, artificial intelligence, and the “Golden Dome” system.
An Israeli official explained to American reports that this approach aims to persuade the Trump administration by making the cooperation directly beneficial to the U.S. military. He stated, “This is thinking outside the box; we want to focus more on bilateral cooperation, and the Americans are impressed with this idea.”
