Rubio: Trump Wants Israel to Pay for Its Own Arms by Year's End
The Secretary of State says the President views Israel as financially capable of purchasing US weapons without federal financing, despite an existing agreement that runs through 2028.
By Nikolai Morales ·
The White House is moving to end the financing portion of US military aid to Israel earlier than planned.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters at the G7 meeting in Paris that President Donald Trump believes Israel is now rich enough to buy American weapons without relying on federal loans.
"We’re working through that in terms of how we negotiate the memorandum of understanding," Rubio said. "But the president’s expectation is that Israel is now prosperous and rich enough to be a sales country. They can buy the weapons from us, but we no longer have to provide the financing."
Rubio stated that Trump "would like for the financing portion to end as soon as possible." He added that the administration is negotiating a new timeline for this shift.
The current ten-year memorandum of understanding expires at the end of September 2028. This agreement provides Israel with $3.8 billion annually.
President Trump said last week that he has an agreement for the aid to cease by the end of 2026. Rubio confirmed that Israel can "absolutely" get off aid by that date if it chooses to do so.
Rubio noted that Israel produces its own weaponry. He said part of the new memorandum of understanding would involve the ability to co-produce certain items. "The president wants it as soon as possible," Rubio said. "He thinks it makes sense to do it as soon as possible."
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said earlier this year that he wants to move Israel off US aid over a decade. Trump’s recent comments surprised many top officials on both sides of the Atlantic.
Trump suggested he did not want to give ammunition to critics who argue Washington gives more to Israel than any other country. The US currently spends more on military aid to Israel than to any other nation.
The memorandum of understanding began in 2019. It requires the majority of funds to be spent on weapons manufactured in the United States.
According to the Council on Foreign Relations, Israel has received more than $300 billion in US economic and military assistance since 1948, adjusted for inflation. No other country has received more since 1946.
Israel’s defense ministry budget for 2025 swelled to a record NIS 110 billion, or $29 billion. The total defense budget stands at NIS 136 billion, or $36.9 billion.
