US Plans to Cut Annual Military Aid to Israel, Trump Says
The US administration under President Donald Trump plans to end annual military aid to Israel, citing the country's economic self-sufficiency.
Portal Islam 
This article was first published in Indonesian. Baca versi Bahasa Indonesia →
The United States government reportedly plans to end its annual military funding assistance to Israel. According to international media reports, the move is based on the assessment that Israel is now economically self-sufficient enough to purchase its own military equipment.
Reports of this strategic policy shift in the Middle East have drawn global public attention, including in Indonesia, where citizens closely monitor international geopolitical dynamics with deep concern for humanitarian causes. Demonstrating this global humanitarian solidarity, civil society groups in Indonesia have previously voiced their stance on such issues, as seen in the rally Defending Palestine: One Million Gather Outside the US Embassy in Jakarta.
Reasons Behind the Proposed Aid Cut
As reported by CNN Indonesia on Tuesday, 11 November 2026, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio outlined the rationale behind US President Donald Trump's desire to stop the military aid. Rubio stated that President Trump considers Israel prosperous and wealthy enough to buy weapons independently without relying on US taxpayer subsidies.
"The president's expectation is that Israel is now prosperous and wealthy enough to be a customer nation. They can purchase weapons from us, but we no longer need to provide the funding," Rubio said, as quoted from the Times of Israel in a CNN Indonesia report on Monday, 9 November 2026, in Paris.
Furthermore, President Trump explained that he does not want US assistance to Israel—which stands as the largest foreign aid package granted to any nation—to be used by critics to attack his administration. Rubio emphasized, "The president wants this ended as quickly as possible."
Details of the US-Israel Memorandum of Understanding
According to CNN Indonesia, the United States and Israel currently operate under a bilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) providing Israel with $3.8 billion (approximately Rp68 trillion) in annual military aid. The 10-year agreement is officially scheduled to expire at the end of September 2028.
However, President Trump recently expressed his intention to terminate the MoU early, aiming for the end of 2026. This unexpected plan reportedly surprised Israeli officials. Earlier this year, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had voiced a desire to gradually phase out the funding agreement over a 10-year period.
Although direct financial grants would end, Marco Rubio added that defense cooperation between the two nations would not cease entirely. Instead, collaboration could shift toward joint arms production, given Israel's robust defense industry capabilities.
"By the way, they produce weapons, so part of the MoU would also include the ability to engage in joint production in certain areas. We will negotiate the timeline," Rubio explained, as cited by CNN Indonesia.
A Humanitarian and Islamic Perspective
From an Islamic standpoint, foreign policy and international relations are evaluated by how effectively they promote justice, the common good, and the prevention of oppression worldwide. Muslims are encouraged to support peace rooted in universal human values and to oppose all forms of injustice that infringe upon human rights.
Shifts in global political dynamics, including the reassessment of superpower defense spending, present an opportunity for the international community to advocate for a more equitable world order—one where humanitarian aid and justice are upheld impartially for vulnerable populations across the globe.
