Marking a significant milestone, Israel's Defense Ministry has concluded its largest defense deal to date. In this landmark agreement, Germany is poised to procure the state-of-the-art Arrow 3 missile defense system at a value of $3.5 billion. This achievement is a direct outcome of the United States officially granting its endorsement for the deal.

While Israel has maintained strong economic and military ties with Western European nations for an extended period, this agreement with Germany holds the potential to capture the attention of Russia. Throughout the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Israel has nurtured diplomatic relations with Russia and, in the process, declined multiple appeals to supply arms to Kyiv to avoid provoking Moscow.

Under this agreement, Germany will procure the advanced defense system, Arrow 3, tailored for intercepting long-range ballistic missiles. The joint development of this system prompted Israel to seek approval for the deal from the U.S. State Department. Israeli defense authorities have highlighted that this acquisition will not only bolster Germany's defense capabilities but also reinforce the enduring defense partnership shared between Israel and the United States.

“Seventy-five years ago the Jewish people were ground to dust on the soil of Nazi Germany,” Netanyahu said. “Seventy-five years later, the Jewish state gives Germany — a different Germany — the tools to defend itself.”

Additional procedural steps are still required from both Israel and Germany before the sale can be finalized, as stated by Moshe Patel, the director of the Israeli Missile Defense Organization. These steps include obtaining approval from the respective parliaments of both countries. Patel conveyed to reporters that the missile system's components are scheduled to be delivered to Germany in full by the year 2025, with the system projected to achieve full operational capability by 2030.

Last year, Germany initiated the European Sky Shield Initiative in collaboration with 17 other nations, which includes the United Kingdom and Sweden. This initiative establishes a joint European air defense system, a response to the Russian incursion into Ukraine.

Expressing his approval, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius welcomed the authorization from the United States that paves the way for the advancement of the deal.

“This procurement plan is essential for us in order to be able to protect Germany from ballistic missile attacks in the future,” he said in a statement posted by his ministry on the social platform X, formerly known as Twitter. He added that “the project also constitutes a signal of our special German-Israeli relations.”

Uzi Rubin, former director of Israel's missile defense program, highlighted that Arrow 3 could serve as a long-range ballistic missile shield for European nations. He underscored its effectiveness against ballistic missile threats, while noting its limitation against cruise missiles and low-altitude flyers.

Instead of providing weapons, Israel has extended humanitarian aid to Ukraine, maintaining its cautious rapport with Russia. Israel cooperates with Russia on security matters in Syria, conducting airstrikes against Iranian military sites there. Notably, Russia hosts a substantial Jewish community.

Israel's decision to proceed with Arrow 3 alongside Germany suggests a strategic balance. This deal, along with the sale of a distinct missile defense system to NATO member Finland, centers on defensive weaponry, aiming to preserve amicable relations with Russia.

“Relations are a bit strained,” said Rubin, who is also an expert at the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security, a think tank. “But still, we are not supplying Ukraine with any weapons. We do that because we want to keep relations with Russia at an acceptable level.”

Image source: AP News