Trump's Sudden Aid Freeze Leaves Israeli Defense Officials Blindsided
Israelis fear the abrupt cutoff disrupts F-35 deliveries and leaves no clear path to resolve the funding gap.
By Pedro Barnes ·
Israeli defense officials say they are completely blindsided by President Donald Trump's early cut-off of military aid. The move contradicts previous negotiations that projected the earliest end of aid would occur at the end of 2028. Some political leaders have tried to downplay the impact, arguing that a shift to a partnership model was already under discussion. However, those talks suggested a gradual transition between 2028 and 2038, not an immediate stop.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has remained largely silent on the matter. Defense sources attribute the confusion to this deafening silence. It is unclear whether the delay stems from ambiguity in Washington, where American defense officials were also surprised, or from internal political struggles. Netanyahu is currently fighting for control of the next government with Gadi Eisenkot. Relations between Netanyahu and IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir are also strained, adding to the uncertainty.
The lack of clarity on amounts and timing has prompted some US government and private sector officials to act preemptively. They may freeze certain weapons transfers or approvals to avoid conflicting with Trump's unknown guidelines. This mirrors a partial freeze on 2,000-pound bombs instituted by President Joe Biden in May 2024. Although that previous freeze was narrowly tailored, Israeli officials said it unofficially slowed other transfers across the spectrum.
Israeli leaders appreciate Trump's support for strikes against Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran, noting fewer strings attached than under Biden. However, they are more worried about the future now than they were in May 2024. In June 2024, then-defense minister Yoav Gallant convinced the Biden administration to unfreeze restrictions by promising specific usage guidelines for weapons. With Trump, officials fear there is no clear solution if he has calculated that continuing aid is not politically viable.
The announcement directly threatens the 2023 deal for 25 additional F-35s. That agreement would raise Israel's fleet from 50 to 75 aircraft, creating a third squadron. First deliveries for that squadron were expected to start in 2027. The potential loss of up to $8 billion in aid casts doubt on these purchases and parallel acquisitions of new F-15 aircraft. Israel lacks the independent capacity to produce these systems.
Some Israeli officials hold out hope that Trump will quietly restore some aid over the next two years on an ad hoc basis. This approach would allow him to avoid real-time reporting to the public and Congress, which a formal agreement would require. In the meantime, there are no plans to rebuild Israel's fighter jet industry. That industry was closed in the 1980s, and officials estimate it would take around 10 years to restore.
