Washington allocates $4.4 billion to support Israel in 2027 budget
Washington has allocated $4.4 billion of its 2027 defense budget to support Israel, in one of the largest military support packages in recent years, an extension of a long-standing U.S. commitment to bolster Israel's military influence in the region.
The administration of US President Donald Trump is working on the Pentagon's 2027 budget, which is described as the largest in US history, as it is expected to reach about $1.5 trillion, an increase of nearly 42% compared to the previous year.
According to the budget book, this increase comes as part of a strategic direction to strengthen US military power and keep pace with the rapid developments of adversaries, in addition to rebuilding the defense industrial base and supply chains that have been affected over the past years, by allocating more than $750 billion to weapons programs, including munitions, aircraft, ships and next-generation systems, the highest in more than five decades.
Israel talks about Washington stopping funding for UNRWA once and for all
Hebrew reports indicate that US funding is distributed across several main tracks, most notably, $3.3 billion in direct security assistance to the IDF, $500 million for joint missile defense programs, including Iron Dome, David's Sling, and the Arrow system, in addition to $80 million for tunnel detection programs and anti-drone technologies.
The budget stipulated a complete halt to UNRWA's funding, while prohibiting financial support to international institutions that Washington considers "biased against Israel," such as the International Criminal Court and the Human Rights Council, prompting Hebrew newspapers to question the nature of the reciprocity.
This decision comes as a result of pressure from Congress, especially from the pro-Israel faction within the Republican and Democratic parties, in a move aimed at protecting Israel from "political targeting" in international institutions, according to the American website Ynet.
Wide welcome in Israel
Officials in the Israeli Defense Ministry said the funding boosts Israel's ability to confront "regional threats," especially in light of escalating security tensions in the region.
The All Israel News report also indicated that the US support will contribute to accelerating the development of new defense systems based on high-energy lasers, a project that Israel considers a strategic shift in air defense systems and may change the shape of future confrontations, noting that the US administration sees this support as an "investment in the stability of the region," and not just financial assistance, especially in light of the accelerated geopolitical transformations.
Washington supports Israel with $3.8 billion annually
Since Washington and Tel Aviv signed a memorandum of understanding in September 2016, covering the period from 2019 to 2028, Washington has committed $3.3 billion annually in direct military assistance, in addition to about $500 million annually for joint missile defense programs, forming a stable financial framework of up to $3.8 billion.
Congress approved emergency packages to provide Israel with precision munitions, interceptors, and rapid logistical support after the events of October 7, 2023, in addition to taking advantage of the US stockpile of weapons stationed inside Israel, and reports from the Congressional Research Service indicate that this period witnessed an unprecedented intensification of practical military support, exceeding the financial ceiling specified in the memorandum of understanding.
Official statements confirm that this support is not limited to direct funding, but also includes extensive technical cooperation in the development of advanced defense systems, as part of Washington's keenness to maintain what it calls Israel's "qualitative military superiority" and ensure its ability to face the escalating regional situation.