The US Department of Defense recently announced that the US government has approved a new round of arms sales to Israel worth approximately US$20 billion, including a large number of advanced equipment such as fighter jets and air-to-air missiles.

This round of arms sales to Israel was approved by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, including F-15 fighter jets and related equipment worth $18.82 billion, advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles worth $102.5 million, 120mm tank ammunition worth $774.1 million, high-explosive mortar shells worth $61.1 million, and tactical vehicles worth $583.1 million. The statement said: "The United States is committed to maintaining Israel's security, and helping Israel develop and maintain its strong and complete self-defense capabilities is vital to the national security interests of the United States. This arms sale is in line with the above goals." Many foreign media expect that Israel will not receive this batch of weapons in the short term. According to the statement, the military equipment included in the contract will be produced in the next few years, and the earliest batch is expected to be delivered from 2026, and the F-15 fighter jets may have to wait until 2029.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant expressed his gratitude to the United States on the social media platform X, saying that the United States has helped Israel maintain its "qualitative regional military advantage" and kept its promise to maintain Israel's security. Since the outbreak of a new round of Israeli-Palestinian conflict on October 7 last year, the United States, as Israel's most important ally, has provided it with a large number of weapons. According to Reuters, some US officials revealed in June that the United States has provided Israel with more than 10,000 2,000-pound (about 907 kilograms) heavy bombs and thousands of "Hellfire" helicopter-borne air-to-ground missiles.

As an ally of the United States, Israel has always been one of the important recipients of US military aid. This arms sale involves various types of weapons and equipment, such as air defense systems, missile systems, drones, etc., with a total value of up to 20 billion US dollars. This decision was made by the US government based on the military cooperation agreement with Israel and is also part of the long-term military cooperation between the two sides.

The fact that the US Congress approved such a large-scale arms sale to Israel reflects the close alliance between the US and Israel. The US has always regarded Israel as its important ally in the Middle East, and military cooperation is an important part of the relationship between the two sides. At the same time, arms sales are also an important economic means that can bring huge commercial benefits to the US defense industry. In addition, through arms sales, the US can obtain Israel's advanced military technology and equipment to enhance its own military strength.

 

The US's approval of a $20 billion arms sale to Israel will undoubtedly have a profound impact on the political, economic and security landscape in the Middle East and even the world. First, this move may exacerbate tensions in the Middle East. Some countries may see this arms sale as evidence that the US favors Israel in the Middle East, thus triggering more contradictions and conflicts. Second, this arms sale will also further strengthen the military cooperation and strategic alliance between the US and Israel. In addition, this arms sale will also bring huge business opportunities and economic benefits to the US defense industry. At the same time, this arms sale may also have a certain impact on the global arms market.