Israel seeks 20-year US security deal with provisions that benefit Washington: Report

ISTANBUL

Israel is seeking to negotiate a 20-year security agreement with the US, double the length of previous pacts, while proposing provisions designed to benefit Washington, Axios reported Thursday, citing Israeli and US officials.

A 10-year Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2016, worth $38 billion, is set to expire in 2028.

Israel hopes to finalize the new deal within the next year and seeks at least the same level of annual military aid of approximately $4 billion, potentially more, according to the report.

Negotiations were initially delayed by the war in the Gaza Strip and recently began with Israel proposing two significant changes, despite concerns about the US administration's general cuts to foreign aid, officials told the news outlet.

Israel wants to extend the agreement from 10 to 20 years and proposes allocating some funds to US-Israeli research and development projects, rather than direct military aid.

An Israeli official described it as "out-of-the-box thinking" to emphasize cooperation, a concept reportedly favored by Washington as it appeals to US President Donald Trump's "America First" policy.

A White House official who commented on the report on condition of anonymity told Anadolu that the administration would "not get ahead of the president on any diplomatic agreements."