Does Guaranteeing Israel's Military Edge Still Serve U.S. Interests?
War on the Rocks publishes a strategic analysis questioning whether the United States' decades-old commitment to maintaining Israel's qualitative military edge (QME) continues to serve American national interests. The QME policy, codified in U.S. law, requires that arms sales to Middle Eastern countries do not undermine Israel's ability to maintain military superiority over potential adversaries in the region.
The article examines how the strategic landscape in the Middle East has shifted significantly since the policy was first established, with new alliances, emerging threats, and evolving U.S. priorities in the region. It considers whether the QME commitment constrains American flexibility in building partnerships with Gulf states and other regional actors who seek advanced military capabilities, potentially at the expense of broader U.S. strategic objectives.
The analysis weighs the enduring rationale for the policy—including Israel's role as a stable democratic ally and intelligence partner—against the costs of maintaining it in an era of great power competition, shifting regional dynamics, and changing American public attitudes toward Middle East engagement. It calls for a more nuanced and updated approach to the U.S.-Israel defense relationship.
The article examines how the strategic landscape in the Middle East has shifted significantly since the policy was first established, with new alliances, emerging threats, and evolving U.S. priorities in the region. It considers whether the QME commitment constrains American flexibility in building partnerships with Gulf states and other regional actors who seek advanced military capabilities, potentially at the expense of broader U.S. strategic objectives.
The analysis weighs the enduring rationale for the policy—including Israel's role as a stable democratic ally and intelligence partner—against the costs of maintaining it in an era of great power competition, shifting regional dynamics, and changing American public attitudes toward Middle East engagement. It calls for a more nuanced and updated approach to the U.S.-Israel defense relationship.