Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump changed the Middle East forever by setting back Iran’s nuclear program. The world beyond the region, particularly Europe, owes both countries a big “thank you.”
What the United States and Israel accomplished with the destruction of Iran’s nuclear program, the removal of its ballistic-missile production capabilities and the decimation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps leadership goes far beyond the Middle East. A major purveyor of global instability, terrorism, drones and missiles has been removed from the chessboard for the foreseeable future.
The closest beneficiary of Iran’s demotion is likely to be Ukraine, followed closely by Eastern and Central Europe, and the other European countries that are increasing their defense budgets because of Russian aggression.
Iran was Russia’s key vendor for close-range ballistic missiles (CRBMs) and drones, which Russia employed against Ukraine with devastating effects. That supply has now gone dry. Of course, the loss of key weaponry will not force Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war, but it does contribute to leveling the playing field.
The field also levels across our unstable, multi-polarized world as a key member of the axis of authoritarians—the one supplying arms to Russia and oil to China—has been mortally wounded. This axis has been sorely weakened, while those who stand opposed to it are strengthening.
NATO countries have collectively boosted spending on defense to 55% of global military spending, and 18 of the 32 NATO countries are investing at least 2% of their GDP. Germany increased its 2024 defense allocations by 28%, making it the “biggest spender in Central and Western Europe” for the first time since World War II, while Poland increased its spending to 4.1% of its GDP.
“The rapid spending increases among European NATO members were driven mainly by the ongoing Russian threat and concerns about possible U.S. disengagement within the alliance,” said Jade Guiberteau Ricard, a researcher at SIPRI, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
What’s more, NATO countries recently agreed to increase their spending to 5% of GDP. Reaching this level will be a monumental task and may not be achievable, but the messaging is what matters. NATO countries are committed to self-defense and self-reliance.
While a loud chorus in MAGA lambasted the U.S. attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities, with some accusing anyone who advocated for the attacks of war-mongering, the fact is that the United States and Israel have, possibly, made the world a far safer place.
Iran is out, Russia lost a junior partner, and Europe is increasing its military, defense and security spending at levels not seen in 80 years, just as Washington and Jerusalem have asserted military dominance. This is exactly what a foreign policy based on peace through strength and shared responsibility produces. It weakens adversaries and strengthens allies.
Over the next decade, the ascendancy of a strong Europe bodes well for the United States and Israel. For the United States, it means reducing its responsibility for European defense and security, thus allowing it to focus on its key adversary, China. For Israel, it means that Europe—already Israel’s largest trading partner—will cement itself as a long-term strategic partner in defense and security, technology and economic development.
An “American First” foreign policy keeps America safe by working in partnership with our allies. Trump achieved an “America First” foreign policy win because he partnered with Netanyahu, who pursued Israel-first intelligence, defense and military campaigns, and won. The result is a new paradigm for the Western alliance that will yield greater prosperity and security for all of us.