Base for Success: U.S. Basing Options in Israel

The 12-Day War in June reaffirmed Israel’s central role in advancing U.S. national security interests, supporting our military freedom of action, and reducing burdens and risks to our forces. Israel upheld core U.S. redlines by eliminating much of Iran’s military and nuclear scientific leadership and severely degrading its nuclear and long-range missile programs. And by taking out key Iranian air defenses, Israel also paved the way for decisive American intervention in Operation Midnight Hammer. The short but successful conflict showcased what our two countries can accomplish together, and it underscored former Secretary of State General Al Haig’s description of Israel as “the largest American aircraft carrier in the world that cannot be sunk.”

This metaphor must now become reality. Our basing options in the Gulf and other parts of the Arab world have been fundamental for deterrence and power projection. They proved invaluable in campaigns against Saddam Hussein’s Iraq, the Islamic State, the Taliban, and al-Qaeda. Israel is not part of this network, even as questions arise about the ability of our current basing options to provide the access and defenses to support America’s freedom of action in the region and beyond.

The time is ideal to explore basing options at Ovda in southern Israel. Built to U.S. specifications and shielded by Israel’s world-class defenses, the airbase can readily support our evolving needs. Initial preparations preceded the 12-Day War—the latest in a growing list of once-unimaginable advances in the bilateral partnership. Further progress will bolster each country’s freedom of action and deterrence by deepening defense cooperation with one of our most reliable and valuable partners. Israel offers unrestricted access, and it does not want permanent U.S. deployments or commitments. Ovda thus avoids constraints that hinder our power projection and endanger our forces at other sites. It also will reinforce U.S. leadership that empowers our partners to plan, train, and operate together effectively, and reduce burdens on us, ever since President Trump reassigned Israel to U.S. Central Command’s (CENTCOM) area of responsibility in 2021.