The United States Navy and Israeli Navy: Background, Current Issues, Scenarios, and Prospects
Abstract
This paper examines the past, present, and future of the relationship between the United States Navy (USN) and its Israeli counterpart. Understanding the USN-Israeli Navy (IN) relationship requires an appreciation of the historical context in which it has unfolded. The first part of the paper begins with the 1967 Six Day War and traces the development of the IN into the 21st century. Throughout this narrative, key topics in USN-IN relations are explored. These include the impact of Israel's sinking of the USS Liberty during the 1967 conflict; the 1973 Yom Kippur War, which marked the beginning of closer USN-IN relations, as well as a strengthening of broader U.S.-Israeli ties; and the United States' role in Israel's naval modernization program during the early 1980s. The second section of the paper assesses the current state of the USN-IN relationship and identifies developments in the security environment that could have significant consequences for relations between the two services. These include American and Israeli tensions with Iran; ongoing Israeli friction with Turkey; uncertainty about the future of Egyptian-Israeli relations in the post-Mubarak era; and Israel's growing cooperation with India. Israel's increasing isolation in the region, the rupture of relations with Turkey, and the changes brought about by the Arab Spring all signal a much more challenging eastern Mediterranean environment for the IN. Given these emerging challenges, Israel may turn to the United States for additional security assistance. For the USN, a key role will be to encourage the IN to pursue a course of caution and moderation. Many of Israel's neighbors in the region see the country as an American proxy, so aggressive Israeli actions, such as an independent military operation against Iran, could have dangerous consequences for the United States. This is a tall order for the USN, whose ability to persuade the IN to act with restraint is likely to be limited.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 2012
- Accession Number
- ADA559163
Entities
People
- Dov S. Zakheim
Organizations
- Center for Naval Analyses