Israel's Prime Minister's Office is calling the end of U.S. military aid a new chapter rather than a loss, and the message is already turning heads. The statement came after President Trump said in a Fox News interview that he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had agreed to end roughly $4 billion in annual American military assistance, starting in 2027. The Prime Minister's Office argues that the aid has always had support from both parties in Washington and that Israel used it to defend itself and to confront enemies that threaten America and the West. It also says Israel now has a strong and stable economy, and that the move from aid to partnership shows the strength and sophistication of the U.S.-Israel relationship and its ability to adapt over time. Israeli officials add that this is part of a transition they have been describing for months.

The shift is a big one, since Israel currently receives about $3.8 billion a year under a ten-year agreement that runs through 2028, much of it spent on American-made equipment. Netanyahu has said since January that Israel has "come of age" and wants to wean itself off the aid. Trump has said the partnership will continue in other ways, including Israel buying U.S. weapons. Supporters see a sign of Israeli independence and a stronger alliance, while critics, including some Israeli commentators, warn it could deepen Israel's diplomatic isolation, and Democrats in Washington have criticized military aid to Israel since 2024. Many questions are still open, including what the new arrangement will look like, how the transition will work, and what it means for U.S. defense jobs and for Israel's security planning.