Israel's exit from US aid signals wider decline in Washington's alliances

Israel's initiative to phase out American military aid signals a significant shift in global alliances, reflecting the diminishing role of U.S. support under the "America First" doctrine. This move suggests a broader trend where Washington's traditional partners are increasingly expected to stand on their own.

According to Zhu Zhaoyi, executive director of the Institute of Middle East Studies at Peking University's HSBC Business School, the "America First" approach has placed greater financial pressure on the United States. This has led to a demand that U.S. allies shoulder more of their own defense and security burdens.

Zhu argued in a commentary published Monday that factors such as increasing financial strains within the U.S. have fueled this "America First" stance. Consequently, Washington expects its allies to become more self-sufficient, a departure from previous eras of robust American military backing. This evolving dynamic challenges the long-standing nature of U.S. alliances.

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factors such as rising financial pressures had fuelled an “America first” approach that demanded Washington’s allies shoulder...