US-Israel Strategic Partnership: History and Future
How U.S.-Israel ties grew through diplomacy, defense, trade, research and regional security cooperation.
Category pages
- How the U.S.-Israel Partnership DevelopedThe United States recognized Israel on May 14, 1948, but the strategic relationship grew over decades. The 1973 airlift and subsequent security, trade and research agreements made cooperation broader and more regular.
- U.S. Aid, QME and the Ten-Year AgreementsThe 2019–2028 U.S.-Israel MOU sets a planned $38 billion in military and missile-defense assistance, subject to annual congressional appropriations. U.S. law also requires arms-sale reviews to consider Israel’s qualitative military edge.
- U.S.-Israel Missile Defense CooperationIron Dome, David’s Sling and Arrow address different classes of aerial threats. The United States funds and co-develops parts of Israel’s layered defenses through programs that also advance U.S. missile-defense capabilities.
- Israel in CENTCOM and the Abraham AccordsIsrael joined CENTCOM’s area of responsibility in September 2021, aligning the U.S. command structure with existing regional security work. The Abraham Accords established diplomatic ties with the UAE and Bahrain; they did not themselves create an integrated military alliance.
- U.S.-Israel Intelligence CooperationThe United States and Israel share intelligence and coordinate through an annual Joint Counterterrorism Group. U.S. officials have described intelligence support against Hamas leaders and formal cooperation on regional threats.
- The 1985 U.S.-Israel Free Trade AgreementThe agreement, the first U.S. free-trade agreement, entered into force in 1985 and phased out tariffs on originating goods. U.S. goods exports to Israel reached $14.8 billion in 2024; imports were $22.2 billion.
- U.S.-Israel Binational Research ProgramsBIRD funds joint company research and development, BARD supports collaborative agricultural science, and BSF awards peer-reviewed academic research grants. Their distinct models connect U.S. and Israeli researchers and companies.
- U.S.-Israel Cybersecurity CooperationPublicly documented cooperation includes U.S.-Israel cyber dialogue and BIRD Cyber, which funds joint industry projects. These initiatives support practical collaboration without establishing the sweeping, permanent cyber alliance sometimes claimed.