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US Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Israel Defense Secretary Benny Gantz signed a joint statement in Washington on Thursday demanding that the United States maintain Israeli military superiority in the Middle East for years to come.
This came according to a tweet that Gantz posted on his account on the social networking site Twitter, in which he highlighted the importance of continued cooperation between the two countries, at a time when the Middle East is witnessing an era of processes of positive normalization, which could face Iranian aggression, he said.
Gantz did not provide further details, but the Israeli media reported that the US commitment will continue for 4 years, that is, in theory, until the end of President Donald Trump’s second term if he is reelected on November 3.
Gantz stressed the importance of continuing cooperation between the two countries (Reuters)Commitment renewal
For his part, the United States Secretary of Defense reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to Israel’s security and said that he would like to recall once again the scope of Washington’s commitment to Israel’s qualitative military superiority in terms of defense sales. .
“It was important for me to reaffirm the special relationship between our two countries,” Esper said.
“We are determined to preserve Israel’s qualitative military advantage in arms sales and reaffirm our firm, secure and long-term commitment to Israel’s security,” added the US Secretary of State.
This signing came at a time when Israel was concerned that Washington might grant Abu Dhabi’s request to purchase advanced F-35 stealth fighters.
Esper: Determined to preserve Israel’s qualitative military advantage (Anatolia)Qualitative superiority
Since the 1960s, the United States has ensured the preservation of Israel’s “qualitative military advantage” in the Middle East.
This policy was reinforced two years ago by a law that stipulates that the US administration, when selling any weapon to another country in the region, ensures that Israel maintains the ability to defend itself if this weapon falls into the wrong hands.
The issue of US multi-role stealth fighters, which Abu Dhabi has long tried to buy from Washington, casts a shadow over the historic deal to normalize relations that the United Arab Emirates and Israel signed at the White House under the auspices. of Trump.
Hours before the landmark agreement was signed, US President Donald Trump declared that he had “no problem” selling these advanced fighters to the United Arab Emirates, in a position to which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu , he strongly opposed, warning that such an agreement could undermine his country’s military superiority in the region.
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