Rubio: Trump Seeks End to U.S. Military Aid to Israel
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated that President Donald Trump holds the view that Israel has achieved a level of economic development and wealth that enables it to purchase necessary armaments independently, without relying on financial aid from Washington.
Rubio elaborated on the President’s perspective, stating, “The President’s expectation is that Israel is now developed and wealthy enough to purchase weapons independently. Israel can buy arms from us, but we no longer need to cover the cost.”
He added that Trump is pushing for the swift cessation of military aid funding to Israel, with Washington currently in discussions with Tel Aviv regarding the timeline and specifics of this transition under a new Memorandum of Understanding.
The Secretary of State also noted that Israel is a domestic producer of weaponry, and there is potential for the new agreement to incorporate joint production of certain military equipment between the two nations.
Rubio emphasized that Israel could transition to independently financing its arms purchases as early as the end of the current year, should such a decision be made.
These remarks follow President Trump’s announcement last week that he had reached an agreement with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to halt the annual U.S. military aid package, valued at approximately $4 billion, by the end of 2026. The current military aid agreement between the two countries is valid until 2028.
