Israel is cashing in on soaring international demand for combat-proven air defence systems, as analysts say the billions of dollars’ worth of weapon sales will significantly expand the country’s influence beyond the Middle East.
The weapon exports to Europe, Asia and Africa are helping Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration overcome its diplomatic isolation over the Gaza war by making the Jewish-majority state a key long-term security partner for its customers.
“Exporting air defence systems is the highest level of strategic alignment. This isn’t a mere commercial transaction; it is a 30-year loyalty contract,” said Boyko Nikolov, the founder of Hardpoint, a specialised strategic intelligence platform.
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When nations like Germany or Finland acquired Israeli air defence systems, they would be locked into Israel via software, intelligence sharing and continuous technical support, he told This Week In Asia.
This would transform Israel from a regional power into a “critical pillar” of European security, providing Israel with huge diplomatic leverage as it would be impossible to “isolate or sanction the state that holds the key to protecting your airspace”, Nikolov said.
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In doing so, Israel has successfully leveraged its defence capabilities into its “most potent foreign policy tool” in which it is “a primary provider and guarantor for the West, fundamentally shifting its weight at the global negotiating table”.