by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief
WASHINGTON/JERUSALEM (Worthy News) – Israel faces approximately $10 billion in outstanding American weapons orders beyond existing U.S. military aid commitments, complicating President Donald Trump’s announcement that Washington will end its annual financial assistance to the Jewish state, according to an exclusive report by The Wall Street Journal.
A State Department document submitted to Congress and reviewed by the Journal reveals that Israel will need roughly $10 billion after 2028 to cover weapons purchases already placed with American defense manufacturers. Washington has also committed nearly $7 billion in military assistance over the next two years.
The outstanding purchases reportedly include 25 advanced F-35 fighter jets, raising questions about who will finance existing contracts if American military grants are eliminated.
Trump announced Tuesday that he and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had agreed to end approximately $4 billion in annual assistance by the end of 2026, although the current U.S.-Israel security agreement runs through September 2028.
Netanyahu has previously advocated gradually eliminating American military assistance over the next decade, arguing that Israel should become increasingly self-reliant while maintaining its strategic partnership with Washington.
A New Era in U.S.-Israel Defense Cooperation
The proposed transition could fundamentally reshape the relationship between the two allies, replacing direct military grants with expanded joint weapons development, defense technology investment, and military production.
However, an abrupt cutoff could create financial challenges for Israel, which already spends approximately 7% of its gross domestic product on defense.
The change could also affect American defense manufacturers, since much of the assistance provided to Israel must be spent purchasing U.S.-produced weapons.
With billions in existing commitments, congressional approval requirements, and longstanding American obligations to preserve Israel’s qualitative military edge, any transition is likely to take years rather than months.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
