Military Cooperation |
Extremely strong (joint exercises, intelligence sharing, $3.8B/year aid) |
Varies (strong with Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt; limited with Syria, Yemen) |
NATO allies (very strong), tense with Russia/China |
Economic Ties |
High-tech trade, bilateral trade ~$50B/year |
Energy trade (oil/gas), growing investments (e.g., UAE, Saudi NEOM) |
EU (largest trade partner), China (complex trade rivalry) |
Diplomatic Support |
Strong UN backing, U.S. often vetoes anti-Israel resolutions |
Mixed (support for Gulf states vs. tensions with Iran-aligned states) |
NATO/EU (aligned), adversarial with Russia/China |
Strategic Interests |
Counterterrorism, regional stability, countering Iran |
Energy security, counterterrorism, balancing Iran |
Global hegemony, countering China/Russia influence |
Public Opinion |
Strong bipartisan U.S. support |
Mixed (improving with some Gulf states, negative with Iran/Iraq) |
Favorable with EU, highly negative with Russia/China |
Historical Context |
Close since 1948, reinforced by Cold War & peace deals |
Shifting alliances (from oil diplomacy to Abraham Accords) |
Cold War alliances, post-9/11 dynamics, rising China |
Key Issues |
Palestinian conflict, Iran’s nuclear program |
Human rights, Iran tensions, Yemen/Syria conflicts |
Trade wars (China), Ukraine war (Russia), NATO cohesion |