Trump Announces End of $4 Billion Israel Military Aid from 2027

US Announces End to Annual Military Aid to Israel in 2027

US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that Washington would stop giving Israel around $4 billion a year in military aid from 2027, announcing the decision as polls opened across the United States for the midterm elections.

Speaking by phone to Fox News, Trump said Israel no longer needed the money but that the US would continue to sell arms to its closest Middle East ally. He said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had proposed the idea and that they had been discussing it for a couple of years.

Trump framed the announcement in campaign terms, saying the aid had become too easy a target for critics such as Abdul El-Sayed, a Democrat and outspoken critic of Israel who is running for the Senate in Michigan.

The current 10-year, $38 billion agreement was signed in 2016 under Barack Obama and runs until 2028.

The announcement prompted reactions in Israel, with Netanyahu’s office not immediately commenting and Gadi Eisenkot, his main rival, saying it was dangerous that Israel’s defence establishment had learned of the change through the media and calling for the prime minister to be replaced.

Tensions in the Gulf rose at the same time as the announcement. A US official said American forces had carried out defensive strikes on Iranian targets in the Strait of Hormuz that were using surface-to-air missiles, and Iranian state television reported explosions on Qeshm Island.

Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, Iran’s parliament speaker and chief negotiator, said Tehran had delivered a “firm and rational response” to Washington and that it was now up to the US to prevent renewed war. He told parliament Iran remained ready “with its finger on the trigger” but did not specify what the response was.

Liberal News Analysis: What Does This Development Mean?

President Donald Trump’s announcement marks a significant potential shift in US financial support to Israel by signaling an end to roughly $4 billion in annual military assistance from 2027 while preserving arms sales. The timing during midterm election voting highlights a political dimension to the decision as described by the president. Reactions in Israel, including criticism from Gadi Eisenkot about the defence establishment learning of the change via media, indicate potential domestic political consequences for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Concurrent strikes and reported explosions in the Gulf and statements from Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf underscore rising regional tensions that coincided with the announcement.

Quick Glance: What You Need to Know

• Donald Trump announced the US will stop providing about $4 billion a year in military aid to Israel from 2027.
• Trump said Israel no longer needed the funds and that arms sales to Israel would continue.
• Trump attributed the decision in part to campaign considerations and criticism from Abdul El-Sayed.
• The existing 10-year, $38 billion agreement signed in 2016 under Barack Obama runs until 2028.
• Gadi Eisenkot criticized the way Israel’s defence establishment learned of the change and called for Netanyahu to be replaced.
• US forces reportedly carried out defensive strikes on Iranian targets in the Strait of Hormuz and Iranian state television reported explosions on Qeshm Island.
• Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said Iran had delivered a firm response and warned the US to prevent renewed war.