Netanyahu Insists Israel Must Be Self-Sufficient and Break Free from US Military Dependence
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has renewed calls for Israel to increase its military autonomy and reduce dependence on support from the United States. The statement was released by the prime minister’s office on Tuesday (23/6/2026), following rising diplomatic tensions between the two close allies.
“I greatly appreciate the support we have received from our American friends, but we need to break free from dependence and build our own independent armaments network,” Netanyahu told reserve officers at a training course in the occupied West Bank.
The statement was made on 18 June, just one day after the United States and Iran agreed on a preliminary deal to end the war in the Middle East, a move the Israeli government strongly opposes. Netanyahu asserted that Israel must be able to produce its own weaponry to guarantee national security without external intervention.
Since its founding in 1948, Israel has been the world’s largest recipient of US economic and military aid. According to data from the Council on Foreign Relations, Israel has received more than US$300 billion (approximately Rp5,340 trillion) adjusted for inflation. Under an agreement signed in 2016 and in effect since 2019, Israel receives about US$3.8 billion per year in financial assistance for weapons purchases. This sum accounts for roughly 15 percent of Israel’s total defence budget and is scheduled to continue until 2028.
Although Washington remains its closest ally, relations have continued to heat up over Israel’s handling of the conflict since the 7 October 2023 attack. US President Donald Trump recently issued sharp public criticism of Netanyahu, particularly as Israel’s war with Hezbollah in Lebanon was seen as threatening peace talks with Iran. The rift deepened after the US president openly condemned both Israel and Iran for allegedly violating the ceasefire that ended last year’s 12-day war. With the push to build an independent armaments network, Netanyahu appears to be bracing for a future where unconditional support from the White House can no longer be taken for granted.