NATO and it’s impact on israel
What is NATO?
The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation or NATO is a political and military alliance, established on April 4th, 1949, by the North Atlantic / Washington Treaty. At the core of NATO's legal and strategic framework is Article 5, which enshrines the principle of collective defence by stipulating that an armed attack against one member shall be considered an attack against all. This commitment to mutual defence enhances the strategic value of NATO membership, particularly for states facing security threats from potentially aggressive neighbours. The North Atlantic Council (NAC) is NATO’s political, decision-making body, comprised of ambassadors to each member country. Chaired by the Secretary General the NAC meets frequently at the ambassadorial level, operating on the principle of unanimity thereby ensuring all member states have an equal say in decisions. The NAC has further substructure, the Military Committee, where senior military authority play a crucial role in translating political decisions into military directives. In parallel, the NATO Parliamentary Assembly where parliamentarians of member countries gather independently and discuss and influence NATO policies. These structures converge during NATO summits—periodic high-level meetings of heads of state and government—which serve as critical forums for assessing the Alliance’s strategic priorities and charting future action.
Who funds NATO and how?
NATO’s funding structure is a dual mechanism of national defence budgets and collective contributions, ensuring both individual and shared defence capabilities. The majority of NATO’s funding comes from national defence budgets, covering personnel expenses, acquisition of equipment and operational costs. In 2006, NATO established a guideline recommending that member countries allocate at least 2% of their GDP to defence spending, with 20% of that amount dedicated to major new equipment. The new Trump administration's foreign policy approach has ushered in a new era for NATO; Secretary-General Mark Rutte told reporters at the 2025 Munich Conference that member contributions would need to increase “north of 3%”. Based on 2024 spending figures this target is already adhered to by Poland (4.1%), Estonia (3.4%), the United States (3.3%), Latvia (3.1%) and Greece (3%). On April 15th, 2025, The White House Office of Management and Budget proposed a near 50% reduction of the State Department’s budget, eliminating funding for both the UN and NATO headquarters, among other overseas diplomatic missions.
While not legally binding, this target serves as a benchmark for assessing contributions. Direct contributions allow NATO to maintain multiple common budgets. The civil budget, financing expenses related to NATO headquarters operations and the military budget, financing operational and maintenance costs of NATO’s command structure. Direct contributions also fund the NATO Security Investment Programme, which facilitates long-term investments in shared defence infrastructure, such as air defence systems, command and control facilities, and communications networks. In 2025, NATO’s civil budget was €483.3 million while the military budget stood at €2.37 billion. Collectively, these direct contributions made up approximately 0.02% of total allied defence spending.
Israel and NATO
While Israel is not a member of NATO the two parties have developed a multifaceted relationship that has evolved from initial reservations to closer cooperation, particularly following the end of the Cold War. In the early 1950s, U.S. military leadership recognised Israel's potential strategic value in the Middle East. General Omar Bradley suggested that Israel could contribute significantly to regional defence. However, fear of driving Arab states towards the Soviets led the U.S. to prioritize relations with other Middle Eastern countries, and Israel's request for NATO membership was declined.
However, there have been notable initiatives involving cooperation. Established in December 1994, the Mediterranean Dialogue aimed to promote security and cooperation between NATO and several non-member countries, including Israel. This initiative marked the beginning of formalised relations, with Israel participating in joint military exercises and contributing to NATO-led operations. The Istanbul Cooperation Initiative, launched in 2004, enhanced security cooperation with countries in the broader Middle East region, particularly those in the Gulf Cooperation Council. In October 2006, NATO and Israel finalised the Individual Cooperation Programme, enhancing collaboration in areas such as counterterrorism and joint military exercises in the Mediterranean. In January 2017, Israel opened a permanent mission at NATO's Brussels headquarters, further solidifying its partnership status.
Following the Hamas-led attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023, NATO’s cooperative framework with Israel has encountered significant diplomatic challenges. Since October 2024, Turkey has objected to NATO's cooperation with Israel, citing humanitarian concerns over Israeli actions in Gaza. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stated that NATO should not engage with Israel “until comprehensive, sustainable peace is established in Palestine.” As NATO operates on the condition of unanimity Turkey’s objection functions as a veto, thereby obstructing any formal cooperation between NATO and Israel. Australia, among other nations, expressed readiness to provide assistance following a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.
The United Kingdom, a founding member, is currently the subject of both external and internal legal scrutiny concerning the continued export of arms to Israel. These proceedings have emerged in response to allegations that such exports may undermine the UK’s obligations under international humanitarian law. Externally, non-governmental organisations including the Global Legal Action Network (GLAN) and Al-Haq have initiated judicial review proceedings in the UK High Court, seeking to challenge the legality of these arms exports. The aim of the litigation is to assess whether the UK government is fulfilling its international legal obligations in authorising military exports to Israel. Concurrently, the UK government is conducting an internal legal review, a standard procedure carried out by civil service legal advisors, which becomes particularly salient during periods of active conflict. While not a court proceeding, such reviews can lead to the suspension of export licenses, as occurred in September 2024 when approximately 30 licenses were suspended due to concerns over potential misuse in Gaza. The continuation of NATO-Israel cooperation will likely depend on multiple factors, namely, the resolution of intra-alliance disputes and diplomatic engagement to reconcile these differing stances in a manner which member states feel upholds the foundational principles of the alliance.
Israel has played a notable role in contributing to NATO's intelligence-sharing initiatives, particularly in the domain of counterterrorism. One area in which Israel has developed specialised expertise is in subterranean warfare, stemming from its operational experience in the Gaza Strip. The extensive tunnel infrastructure developed by Hamas has necessitated the development of advanced tactics and technologies by the IDF, positioning them as global leaders in tunnel detection, underground combat operations, and related counterterrorism measures. This expertise has been of strategic interest to NATO, particularly in enhancing its understanding of asymmetric threats and complex urban warfare environments. Israel also engages in joint military training and exercises with NATO member states, focusing on areas such as counterterrorism, missile defence, and cybersecurity. In the domain of cyber defence in particular, Israel has made substantial contributions to NATO’s cybersecurity initiatives, drawing upon its advanced technological capabilities and extensive experience in mitigating cyber threats. These collaborative efforts enhance interoperability and strengthen the Alliance’s resilience against emerging digital security challenges.
NATO’s future
President Trump's scepticism toward NATO is anticipated to persist during his second term. His administration may advocate for a "dormant NATO" policy, reducing U.S. involvement and shifting primary defence responsibilities to European allies. In the Middle East Trump is expected to intensify efforts to counter Iran's influence, reinstating the "maximum pressure" policy. This strategy may ramp up renewed sanctions and diplomatic isolation aimed at curbing Iran's nuclear ambitions and regional activities, however given the recent development of intermediary talks held in Oman on 12th April 2025, he may ultimately be seeking a deal rather than confrontation. While no substantial progress was made in the talks, they have fostered a more direct and potentially cooperative line of communication between the U.S. and Iran. Any potential outcomes will have profound implications for Israel, NATO and the broader Middle East. This is especially true in the context of NATO being undermined by the U.S., which limits NATO’s capacity for strategic cooperation with allied, non-member, states like Israel and Ukraine. Ultimately, the strength of NATO and its partnerships will rest on navigating shifting political sands, with strategic cohesion, and the quiet endurance of diplomacy.