Arming Israel to Defeat Iranian Aggression: Frontloading Weapons Delivery

The 10-year memorandum of understanding (MoU) on U.S. defense assistance to Israel forms the centerpiece of America’s commitment to uphold Israel’s “qualitative military edge” (QME) which ensures Israel can counter military threats at acceptable cost to itself. This represents a significant commitment to an ally, and one which benefits the U.S. economy and American workers. It also underscores Israel’s importance as an anchor for securing U.S. interests, especially as the United States increasingly depends on Israel to uphold Middle East stability.

Israel now faces more urgent and intensive security threats than when this agreement was negotiated and signed – first and foremost Iran’s regional and nuclear expansion. Yet the MoU locks in Israel’s procurement of U.S. defense articles at a constant annual level through 2027, by dividing up the MoU’s $38 billion total evenly across ten fiscal years.

Now the U.S. government needs to shift forward, or “frontload,” the MoU to bolster Israel’s ability to defend itself and prepare for looming major conflict with Iran and Hezbollah. Concomitantly, the United States should replenish prepositioned weapons stockpiles in Israel and/or loan Israel much-needed weapons.

Our paper aims to encourage serious thinking in both countries about how to accomplish this, by laying out financing options about how to accelerate Israel’s weapons procurement, without raising the annual cost of the MoU to the United States.

Click here to read the report.

U.S.-Israel Security Policy Project Chairman

ADM James Stavridis, USN (ret.)
Former NATO Supreme Allied Commander and former Commander of U.S. European Command

U.S.-Israel Security Policy Project Members

Gen Charles “Chuck” Wald, USAF (ret.)
Former Deputy Commander of U.S. European Command

LTG John Gardner, USA (ret.)
Former Deputy Commander of U.S. European Command

Lt Gen Henry Obering, USAF (ret.)
Former Director of U.S. Missile Defense Agency