JD Vance: US cannot be ‘subservient’ to Israel on Middle East policy
U.S. Vice President JD Vance said Washington cannot allow its Middle East policy to be “subservient to the State of Israel,” in a blunt assertion about a key regional ally from one of the Trump administration’s top figures and a leading 2028 Republican presidential contender.
Speaking Tuesday at the All-In Summit in Los Angeles, Vance said Israel remained an important partner on military technology and intelligence, but that the U.S. would not automatically follow the Israeli government’s lead on security issues.
“We’re going to work with people when we work with them. We’re going to disagree when we disagree. And we’re going to pursue America’s interests,” Vance said.
The Trump administration and Israel launched an attack on Iran on Feb. 28 — sparking an ongoing war in the Middle East, which has driven up energy prices and stifled marine traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital chokepoint for the transport of fuel.
The Israeli parliament hailed U.S. President Donald Trump last year, for America’s role in releasing hostages held by Palestinian militants in Gaza. On March 5, Defense Minister Israel Katz thanked Trump for his “great support for Israel” and said cooperation between Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was “changing regional and global history.”
That optimism masks an increasingly complicated relationship. In June, Vance warned Israel that it had few friends left and should think carefully before alienating Washington.
The U.S. vice president already angered parts of Israel’s diplomatic community — as well as the pro-Israel Republican establishment. His defense in June of a ceasefire agreement with Iran rattled Israeli officials and damaged his standing with some pro-Israel Republican donors.
In Tuesday’s remarks, he also praised Trump for being willing to break with Netanyahu when American and Israeli interests diverged.
“Donald Trump is the one president of the last 40 years who’s been willing to say ‘You know what, yeah Bibi’s a good partner, but also Bibi and I have a different opinion on this,’ or ‘Bibi’s wrong about this,’ or maybe ‘Bibi’s right about this from the perspective of Israel, but the American people need us to go in a different direction,’” he said.
Vance also compared the relationship with Israel to Washington’s European alliances, saying U.S. policy should not be “subservient to NATO” either.
