Trump's Commitment to Maintain Israel's Military Superiority in the Middle East

The Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported on Wednesday, May 24, that Donald Trump assured Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of his commitment to "maintain Israel's military superiority" in the Middle East during their discussions. According to the newspaper, this commitment to continue Israel's military dominance in the region was a response to concerns expressed by Israel regarding the $100 billion arms deal between the United States and Saudi Arabia. Mr. Trump visited Israel this week, one day after his trip to Saudi Arabia where he signed a $110 billion deal for the sale of advanced American weaponry to the Saudi military. Haaretz reported that during a working meeting on Monday, May 22, in Jerusalem, the U.S. President told Netanyahu that the U.S. would act to ensure that Israel "remains superior to all armies in the Middle East." The newspaper noted that U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, on the plane carrying the President from Riyadh to Tel Aviv, told reporters that the U.S.-Saudi military deal "does not contradict the U.S. commitment to maintaining Israel's military superiority." Although Netanyahu himself did not openly comment on the U.S.-Saudi deal, some officials close to him emphasized that this deal was "disturbing" for Israel. For instance, Yuval Steinitz, the Energy Minister, stated on Sunday, May 21, at the beginning of a government meeting that "the existence of $100 billion worth of advanced weaponry in Saudi Arabia, a country that is an enemy of Israel, robs us of our sleep." This senior member of the ruling Likud party also mentioned that "it is unclear who will end up with all these weapons in the future." According to Steinitz, Trump's visit to Israel is an opportunity to "explicitly ask the U.S. what guarantees it provides to maintain Israel's military superiority in the region." At the end of Trump's visit to Israel, the White House issued a statement on the evening of Tuesday, May 23, emphasizing the "U.S. commitment to Israel's security." The statement added that Mr. Trump discussed ways to "enhance the military capabilities of U.S. allies in the region against Iran" with the Israeli Prime Minister. According to this statement, "the U.S. President and the Israeli Prime Minister agreed on standing against Iran and its proxy groups in the region; including the emphasis on building a powerful military capability to defend Israel and the region against Iranian threats." The U.S.-Saudi deal includes the THAAD missile defense system, helicopters, missile-carrying ships, large quantities of guided bombs, the sale of over a hundred advanced tanks, and U.S. assistance in cyber capabilities to Saudi Arabia. Haaretz noted that "unlike all previous U.S. administrations, the Trump cabinet did not consult with Israel before finalizing this deal, while even during Barack Obama's administration, the details of U.S. deals with regional countries, including Saudi Arabia, were carried out in consultation with Israel to ensure Israel's superiority in the region." Haaretz recalls that "as a result of these consultations, the Obama administration refrained from selling certain military equipment to Saudi Arabia at Israel's request."