In a surprising move, the United States and Israel are negotiating to send Patriot air defense systems from Israel to Ukraine amidst escalating tensions with Russia. Ukraine, facing a dire need for advanced defense against Russian drones, has been lobbying for Israel’s retired Patriots. This potential transfer, though risky given Israel’s delicate relations with Russia over Syria, underscores the urgency to bolster Ukraine’s defenses. The U.S. is emphasizing to Israel the threat posed by Russia’s collaboration with Iran, aiming to sway Tel Aviv despite historical reluctance to provide significant military aid. This development could significantly impact the balance of power in the ongoing conflict.
In an unexpected development, the United States and Israel are currently in talks to deliver eight Patriot air defense systems from Israel to Kiev. Ukraine has been monitoring Israel’s retired Patriots for months, but they may still be needed by Tel Aviv given the country’s impending fight with Hezbollah along its northern border, as well as a larger confrontation with Iran.
“It would be logical if Israel would give us their Patriot systems, because it would help us—in particular—to destroy Iranian drones used by Russia,” Oleksandr Merezhko, a member of the Ukrainian parliament and chair of the body’s foreign affairs committee, stated in early May.
It would be a hazardous undertaking given Israel-Russia’s strained ties, which have been delicately balanced for years over Syria policy. Israeli jets have repeatedly struck Syria, but Russia, despite having an airbase and a substantial military presence in the country, has sat back and not intervened as long as the targets are ‘Iran-linked’.
Ukraine and the US are now attempting to convince Israel that arming Ukraine is in its long-term security interests. Except for transferring non-lethal equipment, Israel has largely avoided doing so.
The Financial Times reports: “But US officials have sought to convince Benjamin Netanyahu’s government that Russia’s increasingly close ties with Iran, particularly in the field of military co-operation, are a more pressing concern.”
Ukraine presently has at least four patriot batteries and has been practically begging its Western allies for more. If they are sent from Israel, Washington is likely to offer additional incentives to Tel Aviv. FT continues:
Washington gives Israel about $3.8bn annually in military support, and by April had released an additional $14bn in emergency funds for its ally since the war with Hamas broke out.
“It would be fortuitous if these older Patriot missiles were put to good use in another theatre before they aged out,” said Tom Karako, head of the missile defense project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies think-tank in Washington, “especially given the levels of US military aid to Israel”.
However, if an expanded war with Hezbollah and possibly Iran breaks out, Israel will need everything it has in terms of air defense, especially given the hundreds of thousands of missiles believed to be in Hezbollah’s arsenal, which are far more sophisticated than Hamas rockets.
Russia utilized the Iranian-made Shahed 136 “kamikaze drone” loitering munition in Ukraine, as shown below:
One week ago, the Biden administration announced that it is halting all Patriot interceptor missile exports to foreign countries and redirecting them to Ukraine. US National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said that the “difficult but necessary decision” to prioritize the delivery of Patriot and NASAM missiles to Ukraine had been made, reflecting the depth of urgency during Russia’s aerial assault.
Recently, GreatGameIndia reported that at the Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov claimed that France seeks ‘direct’ entry into the Ukraine war.
