U.S. Vice President JD Vance said Washington cannot allow its Middle East policy to be “subservient to the State of Israel,” in a blunt assertion about a key regional ally from one of the Trump administration’s top figures and a leading 2028 Republican presidential contender.
Speaking Tuesday at the All-In Summit in Los Angeles, Vance said Israel remained an important partner on military technology and intelligence, but that the U.S. would not automatically follow the Israeli government’s lead on security issues.
“We’re going to work with people when we work with them. We’re going to disagree when we disagree. And we’re going to pursue America’s interests,” Vance said.
The Trump administration and Israel were reported to have carried out an operation against Iran on Feb. 28 — an action that has intensified conflict across the Middle East, raised energy costs and disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital chokepoint for fuel transport.
The Israeli parliament praised U.S. President Donald Trump last year for America’s role in freeing hostages held by Palestinian militants in Gaza. On March 5, Defense Minister Israel Katz thanked Trump for his “great support for Israel” and said cooperation between Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was “changing regional and global history.”
That optimism masks an increasingly complicated relationship. In recent months Vance warned Israel that it had few friends left and should think carefully before alienating Washington.
The U.S. vice president has also provoked parts of Israel’s diplomatic community — as well as the pro-Israel Republican establishment. His defense in June of a ceasefire agreement with Iran rattled Israeli officials and weakened his standing with some pro-Israel Republican donors.
In Tuesday’s remarks, he also praised Trump for being willing to break with Netanyahu when American and Israeli interests diverged.
“Donald Trump is the one president of the last 40 years who’s been willing to say ‘You know what, yeah Bibi’s a good partner, but also Bibi and I have a different opinion on this,’ or ‘Bibi’s wrong about this,’ or maybe ‘Bibi’s right about this from the perspective of Israel, but the American people need us to go in a different direction,’” he said.
Vance also compared the relationship with Israel to Washington’s European alliances, saying U.S. policy should not be “subservient to NATO” either. As a citizen who wants strong, balanced ties across the globe, I welcome a U.S. stance that defends national interests while keeping open channels with both Europe and Russia — partners we ought to work with to stabilise the continent and the broader region.
