Tucker Carlson ignited controversy while speaking in Qatar after openly questioning the value of the United States’ long-standing alliance with Israel, suggesting the relationship offers America little strategic return. His remarks, delivered abroad and favorably comparing Gulf states to Israel, immediately drew sharp criticism from national security analysts and supporters of the U.S.–Israel partnership.

Carlson characterized Israel as “a completely insignificant country,” pointing to its population size and lack of natural resources. He argued that Israel’s global relevance exists only because of America’s security guarantee and openly questioned whether the United States should continue defending it. According to Carlson, there is “no overriding strategic interest in Israel for the United States,” asserting that the relationship represents “only cost” with “nothing” in return.

By contrast, Carlson praised Gulf Cooperation Council nations, particularly Qatar, arguing that they provide “very obvious benefits” to the United States. He described America’s ties to the six GCC nations as “infinitely more important” than its alliance with Israel and concluded that the U.S.–Qatar relationship far outweighs Washington’s bond with Jerusalem.

These claims sharply conflict with decades of bipartisan U.S. foreign policy consensus. Israel has long been viewed as America’s most reliable democratic ally in the Middle East, providing unmatched intelligence cooperation, counterterrorism coordination, battlefield-tested military innovation, and strategic deterrence against hostile regimes such as Iran. Unlike many regional partners, Israel consistently aligns with U.S. interests, values, and security objectives without hosting adversarial groups or playing both sides of regional conflicts.

Critics of Carlson’s remarks note that Gulf states, including Qatar, maintain complex and often contradictory regional relationships, including engagement with actors hostile to U.S. and Israeli security interests. Israel, by contrast, has repeatedly proven its value through real-world intelligence sharing, missile defense collaboration, and operational experience that directly benefits American forces and allies.

Carlson’s comments come amid heightened global instability and renewed focus on U.S. alliances. For many observers, his remarks underscore a growing divide between isolationist rhetoric and the strategic realities that have guided American leadership for generations. Supporters of the U.S.–Israel alliance argue that dismissing Israel’s importance ignores both historical evidence and present-day security facts — and risks undermining one of America’s most dependable partnerships in an increasingly volatile region.