Pentagon strategy calls Israel a ‘model ally,’ revives ‘peace through strength’ doctrine

The report argues that Iran is now at its weakest point in decades, allowing the US to scale back its direct footprint in the region and instead rely on a regional framework led by Israel and Saudi Arabia.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

The Pentagon’s 2026 National Defense Strategy places Israel at the center of US thinking in the Middle East, describing it as a “model ally” and tying American regional policy to Israeli strength as a pillar of stability, the Jersualem Post reports.

Signed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, the 34-page document signals a return to a “peace through strength” doctrine while confirming what it presents as the outcome of the recent campaign against Iran.

It states that Iran’s nuclear program has been “obliterated,” language associated with President Trump, and says Tehran’s “axis of resistance,” including Hezbollah and Hamas, has been “severely degraded” following Israeli operations supported by the US.

The strategy says Israel’s ability to defend itself without asking the United States to fight on its behalf makes it deserving of unequivocal backing.

In a sharp break from prior policy, the document criticizes the Biden administration for having “tied [Israel’s] hands” after the October 7 attack. It commits Washington to removing bureaucratic and political barriers to ensure Israel maintains military superiority.

The report argues that Iran is now at its weakest point in decades, allowing the US to scale back its direct footprint in the region and instead rely on a regional framework led by Israel and Saudi Arabia.

Beyond the Middle East, the strategy reorders global priorities. It places “homeland defense” at the top and directly links national security with border enforcement, instructing the military to confront drug cartels and terrorist organizations in the Western Hemisphere in language reminiscent of the Monroe Doctrine.

On Europe, the document delivers a firm message to NATO. While Russia is labeled a “persistent but manageable threat,” allies are told the US will no longer carry the primary burden of continental defense.

The strategy calls on partners to raise defense spending to 5% of GDP, with Washington offering “critical but more limited support.”

China is described as the central long-term challenge, with the US shifting from confrontation to deterrence “through strength” while investing heavily in its defense industrial base.

In a symbolic move, the report also revives the historic term “War Department,” which Hegseth said is meant to “restore the warrior ethos” and refocus the military on victory.