Key facts
- Israel is seeking to phase out US military aid.
- US and Israel began negotiations on a new aid memorandum of understanding on June 5.
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu supports a gradual reduction in US aid.
- A Chinese analyst views this as part of a decline in US alliances due to "America First" policies.
- The analyst suggests NATO members, Japan, South Korea, and Gulf states could face similar pressures.
Israel's initiative to reduce its reliance on American military aid is seen by a prominent Chinese international relations analyst as an indicator of a broader decline in US alliances, fueled by Washington's "America First" stance and growing financial pressures. Zhu Zhaoyi, executive director of the Institute of Middle East Studies at Peking University HSBC Business School, argued in a commentary that allies are increasingly expected to cover more of their own security expenses.
The commentary, published by the Greater Bay Area Review, suggests that Israel's effort to "wean itself off" American aid aligns with this trend, posing a potential challenge for NATO members, Japan, South Korea, and Gulf states.
Negotiations for a successor memorandum of understanding governing US military aid to Israel commenced on June 5, following comments by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu advocating for a gradual phase-out of such assistance.