Jerusalem: Israel is negotiating a 20-year security agreement with the United States, aiming to double the duration of previous arrangements and include provisions beneficial to Washington, Axios reported Thursday, citing Israeli and US officials.
According to Anadolu Agency, the existing 10-year Memorandum of Understanding, valued at $38 billion, will expire in 2028. Israel is eager to finalize the new agreement within the next year, seeking at least the same level of annual military aid, approximately $4 billion, if not more.
Negotiations faced initial delays due to the conflict in the Gaza Strip but have recently commenced, with Israel proposing two notable changes. Despite concerns over the US administration’s general reductions in foreign aid, officials shared these developments with the news outlet.
Israel’s proposal includes extending the agreement from 10 to 20 years and allocating portions of the funds for US-Israeli research and development projects, instead of solely direct military aid. An Israeli official characterized this as “out-of-the-box thinking” to highlight cooperation, a concept reportedly appealing to Washington and aligning with US President Donald Trump’s “America First” policy.