Greece (Brussels Morning), With the war between Israel and Gaza, has reached the dimensions of a regional crisis that threatens security and stability at the global level, many analysts seek to shed light on the special alliance between NATO and Israel. A partnership that was created through years of crises and opportunities.
NATO includes several members who maintain diplomatic and economic relations with Arab and Muslim-majority nations, some of which have historically had tensions with Israel. Many officials distance themselves from the war, admitting Israel could complicate NATO’s diplomatic relations in the Middle East.
NATO has traditionally focused on the North Atlantic region, with European and North American nations as its primary members. Expanding membership to include a Middle Eastern country like Israel would represent a shift in NATO’s traditional scope and might require adjustments in its strategic priorities.
What would be a safe conclusion is that NATO values its partnership with Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and other states that are not particularly friendly to Israel, to go beyond the special support it provides to Israel’s government.
The tip of the spear in the Middle East
In early October, the United States stated it would deploy U.S. troops to Israel along with an advanced anti-missile system, an uncommon move aimed at strengthening Israel’s air defences following missile attacks from Iran. President Joe Biden stated that the deployment’s purpose was “to defend Israel.” This decision came after Israel launched an anticipated retaliation against Iran, which had fired over 180 missiles at Israel on October 1.
Previously, in April, Iran had also launched missiles and drones at Israel, and in October, the escalation continued with these attacks, as well as intensified fighting between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon. While many of the missiles were intercepted, some managed to breach Israel’s defense systems.
Earlier this month the Swedish Radio’s question raised concerns NATO’s view on the escalating conflict in the Middle East and its impact on the alliance. During a Doorstep statement, ahead of the meetings of NATO Ministers of Defence in Brussels, NATO’s Secretary General Mark Rutte expressed deep concern about the violence and human suffering in Gaza, Israel, and Lebanon, noting Israel’s struggle against Iran and allied groups.
He highlighted that, although NATO is not directly involved, the alliance is indirectly affected due to its mission in Iraq, where it assists in strengthening Iraqi military capabilities. However, he emphasized that NATO’s primary focus remains on the Euro-Atlantic region, underscoring the limits of the organization’s scope in addressing crises outside this area.
Israel meets NATO military capabilities
NATO provides Israel with the scope to develop its military capabilities when it is not targeting Middle Eastern states or is not in a protracted crisis. In addition to the exchange of know-how in the field of technology and logistics, there is also a series of arms sales that only allied states have access to, although not all (e.g. Turkey)
Israel has worked closely with NATO in areas like counterterrorism, intelligence sharing, joint military exercises, and cybersecurity, which allows Israel to enjoy certain advantages of NATO membership without committing politically. The Pentagon confirmed that a THAAD anti-missile system was deployed in southern Israel for training exercises in 2019—the only recorded instance. Lockheed Martin, the largest U.S. defense contractor, manufactures and integrates THAAD, which intercepts short-, medium-, and intermediate-range ballistic missiles, while Raytheon, part of RTX, provides its advanced radar system.
If Israel were to join NATO, the alliance would be obligated under Article 5 to defend it, as an attack on one member is treated as an attack on all. This commitment could draw NATO into potential conflicts involving Israel, particularly with regional powers such as Iran or Hezbollah—an involvement that many NATO countries might be reluctant to undertake.
Based on Daily Sabah’s publication in February, some of Israel’s actions pose direct challenges to U.S. interests in the Middle East, and from a national interest standpoint, unconditional support for Israel could come at a significant cost for the U.S. Washington’s strong support for Israel is facing growing criticism both domestically and internationally. Israel, for its part, values its military autonomy and may prefer to avoid NATO’s collective defense obligations.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) operate under specific strategic and operational requirements that may not align well with NATO’s broader objectives. Israel likely finds it advantageous to sustain its unique relationship with NATO, gaining cooperative benefits without being bound by Article 5 or other treaty commitments.
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