Israel spends $45B on its military yearly; $3.8B is 8.4% of the total. Israel would be just fine without that help, though the US is the greatest partner they could have.
You seem surprised Obama signed the MOU, but it shouldn't be. Recently, social media was abuzz with bullshit about the US and IDF 'merging'. There is no such thing, nor does the actual document ever use the word or imply there's any merger. What it IS, though, is a strengthening of ties and greater collaboration between the two militaries, and this is the crux of the matter:
- Israel is the bastion against communism in the middle east (Iran, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt have all had varying levels of ties to Russia), and the US best leverage against it
- Israel has crazy technology, and shares cutting edge stuff with the US (military, medical, otherwise)
- Israel, being the front line, is the test bed for many US military platforms (first to use F16, F35 in battle, first to shoot down MiG's, and much more), and proving these systems in battle increases US arms sales and global position, and saves American lives (while risking Israeli lives)
The actual text:
SEC. 219. UNITED STATES–ISRAEL DEFENSE TECHNOLOGY 23456789101112131415161718192021222324lotter on DSK8BHNXB4PROD with BILLS25COOPERATION INITIATIVE. (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of Defense shall designate an executive agent, as such term is defined in Department of Defense Directive 5101.01 (relating to DoD Executive Agent, issued February 7, 2022), responsible for
synchronizing cooperative efforts between the United States and Israel, to expand and accelerate bilateral defense technology research, development, testing, evaluation, integration, and industrial cooperation, by— (1) identifying jointly developed or Israeli-origin technologies with operational utility for potential integration into United States systems and programs of record; (2) ensuring collaborative research initiatives involving government, private sector, and academic institutions in the United States and Israel, is done in a manner that protects sensitive technology and information and the national security interests of the United States and Israel; (3) facilitating the transition of technologies from research and development into procurement and acquisition pathways; (4) establishing frameworks for joint ventures, licensing agreements, and United States-based co-pro•HR 8800 RHVerDate Sep 11 2014 21:07 Jun 15, 2026 Jkt 069200 PO 00000 Frm 00102 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\H8800.RH H88001103 duction or manufacturing partnerships with Israeli 234567891011121314151617181920212223lotter on DSK8BHNXB4PROD with BILLS24industry; (5) coordinating with relevant Department of Defense components, including the Irregular Warfare Technical Support Directorate, capability development and innovation divisions, the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, the Defense Innovation Unit, the United States-Israel Operations Technology Working Group, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the Missile Defense Agency, the United States Space Command, the military departments, and other Department of Defense entities, as appropriate, to align efforts and avoid duplication; and (6) promoting joint training exercises and information-sharing mechanisms to enhance operational readiness to deploy jointly developed technologies. (b) COOPERATIVE EFFORTS.—
The synchronized cooperative efforts under subsection (a) may be carried out through the following domains: (1) Counter-Unmanned Systems including aerial, maritime, and ground platforms. (2) Anti-tunneling and subterranean threats. (3) Missile and air defense technologies. •HR 8800 RHVerDate Sep 11 2014 21:07 Jun 15, 2026 Jkt 069200 PO 00000 Frm 00103 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\H8800.RH H88001104
(4) Artificial intelligence, quantum, machine 234567891011121314151617181920212223lotter on DSK8BHNXB4PROD with BILLS2425learning, and autonomous systems.
(5) Directed energy and advanced sensing. (6) Cyber defense, electronic warfare, and digital resilience. (7) Biotechnology, biomanufacturing, and medical defense. (8) Network integration, data fusion, and contested logistics. (9) Defense industrial base cooperation, manufacturing, and co-production. (10) Other emerging technologies as jointly agreed by the United States and Israel. (c) ACTIVITIES IN COORDINATION WITH OTHER FEDERAL DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES.—The Secretary of Defense shall coordinate activities, as appropriate, with the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Commerce, and the heads of other relevant Federal departments and agencies, to ensure consistency with existing laws and regulations. (d) INTERIM PROGRESS UPDATE.—Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall provide to the congressional defense committees an interim briefing on— (1) the executive agent designated pursuant to subsection (a) and the efforts undertaken by such exec•HR 8800 RHVerDate Sep 11 2014 21:07 Jun 15, 2026 Jkt 069200 PO 00000 Frm 00104 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\H8800.RH H88001105 utive agent to lead Department of Defense implemen234567891011121314151617181920212223lotter on DSK8BHNXB4PROD with BILLStation of the synchronized cooperative efforts described in such subsection; (2) the status of coordination, Department-wide, with Israeli counterparts; (3) initial technology areas identified for accelerated cooperation and technologies with operational utility for integration into United States systems and programs of record; and (4) any early transition, prototyping, or integration activities initiated during the period covered by the update. (e) ANNUAL REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter until 2030,
the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on implementation of the cooperative efforts described in subsection (a). Each such report shall include— (1) a description of activities conducted; (2) an assessment of progress made in advancing shared national security interests; (3) an assessment of collaboration with other relevant Federal programs; •HR 8800 RHVerDate Sep 11 2014 21:07 Jun 15, 2026 Jkt 069200 PO 00000 Frm 00105 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\H8800.RH H88001106 (4) a description of technologies transitioned into 2345678910111213141516171819202122lotter on DSK8BHNXB4PROD with BILLSUnited States acquisition programs or fielded systems; (5) a description of partnerships established with United States and Israeli industry; and (6) recommendations for future opportunities to promote the long-term integration of joint capabilities between the United States and Israel. (f) FORM.—Each report required under subsection (e) shall be submitted in unclassified form and may include a classified annex. (g) PUBLIC TRANSPARENCY.—The Secretary of Defense shall make available on a publicly accessible website of the Department of Defense periodic, unclassified updates, to the maximum extent practicable, on the synchronized cooperative efforts carried out under subsection (a), including a description of how these efforts contribute to United States technological and military supremacy. Such updates shall be made in a manner that ensures that classified information or other information that would compromise operational security, export controls, or sensitive technology are not released.
What the US gets back from Israel is worth far more than $3.8B.
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