Netanyahu Says Israel Aims to End U.S. Military Aid Within Decade

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel intends to gradually end its reliance on U.S. military aid, with the goal of reaching full independence within the next decade.

In an interview with The Economist published Friday, Netanyahu said, “I want to taper off the military aid within the next 10 years.” When asked directly whether that meant reducing the aid to zero, he replied, “Yes,” adding that the move is already “in the works.”

Netanyahu said he raised the issue during a recent meeting with Donald Trump, telling him Israel “very deeply appreciates” the military support Washington has provided over the years. “But here too, we’ve come of age,” Netanyahu said.

The prime minister stressed that the move does not reflect any retreat from the U.S.–Israel alliance. “You’d have to be crazy not to fight for the allegiance and support of the American people,” he said, adding that Israel will continue to do so even as it works toward greater independence.

Netanyahu tied the shift to Israel’s growing economic and defense strength. He said Israel’s economy is expected to reach roughly $1 trillion within the next decade and argued that the country has developed “incredible capacities” that allow it to begin reducing reliance on foreign military assistance.

U.S. military aid has been a central part of Israel’s defense posture since the Yom Kippur War. Over the past decade, the annual assistance currently valued at about $3.8 billion, has been structured almost entirely for purchases from the American defense industry under a 10-year agreement set to expire in 2028.

Netanyahu’s comments mark the clearest public indication to date that Israel may not seek a full renewal of that framework. Israeli officials have increasingly acknowledged that changing political dynamics in Washington, along with Israel’s expanding defense exports, make a reassessment unavoidable.

In Washington, Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham responded on X by calling U.S. military aid to Israel “a great investment” for the United States, adding that if Jerusalem wants to change the current dynamic, “we need not wait ten years.” Graham continued that “the billions in taxpayer dollars that would be saved by expediting the termination of military aid to Israel will and should be plowed back into the U.S. military,” which he described as “the best in the world and in great demand.” He also stressed that Israel remains America’s closest ally, writing, “We have no better ally than Israel,” while signaling his intent to push forward a proposal to accelerate the timetable.