Why Europe struggles to break its security ties with Israel

Yesterday 08:47

By: Azzat Manal

Why Europe struggles to break its security ties with Israel

European governments have increasingly adopted tougher political positions toward Israel, particularly over the conflict in Gaza, yet many continue to maintain significant military and security cooperation with the country. The gap between diplomatic criticism and defense policy highlights how deeply some European states remain dependent on Israeli technologies and equipment.

Spain provides one of the clearest examples of this dilemma. Although Madrid has introduced restrictions on arms and defense-related trade with Israel, exceptions linked to national interests have limited the scope of the measures. Some European companies continue to rely on Israeli components and technologies, making an immediate replacement difficult in several strategic areas.

The situation is similar in the Netherlands, where political measures targeting trade connected to Israeli settlements have been accompanied by continued interest in Israeli defense systems. Dutch authorities have argued that suitable European alternatives are not always readily available, particularly for specialized military technologies.

Finland has also maintained close defense ties with Israel. Its cooperation agreement has been extended for several years, reflecting Helsinki's continued reliance on Israeli systems as it seeks to strengthen its military capabilities in an increasingly uncertain European security environment.

Germany remains another major customer of Israeli defense technology. Despite political disagreements with the Israeli government, Berlin has continued to develop substantial defense cooperation with Israeli manufacturers, particularly in areas considered strategically important for national and European security.

Greece has followed a similar path, including plans for major investments in advanced air and missile defense capabilities. In the Baltic region, concerns over Russia and the security consequences of the war in Ukraine have also encouraged governments to explore Israeli technologies as part of broader efforts to reinforce national defenses.

The war in Ukraine has fundamentally changed Europe's security priorities. European countries are increasing military spending, rebuilding stocks of weapons and ammunition, and looking for advanced systems capable of responding to new threats. However, European defense industries do not yet provide immediate substitutes for every Israeli technology, particularly in areas such as missile defense, drones, surveillance, electronic warfare and other specialized systems.

This dependence helps explain why political pressure on Israel has not automatically translated into a complete rupture in military relations. Governments face a difficult balance between foreign-policy considerations and their responsibility to maintain effective defense capabilities.

Israel's defense industry has also benefited from growing international demand. Israeli defense exports have reached record levels in recent years, reflecting strong interest in its missile-defense systems, drones, surveillance technologies and other military products.

The European dilemma therefore goes beyond political disagreements with Israel. It also reflects the continent's broader struggle to develop sufficient domestic defense capabilities. Until European industries can provide comparable alternatives at the required scale and speed, several governments may find it difficult to completely sever their security ties with Israeli suppliers.

The result is a complex relationship in which diplomatic pressure and defense cooperation can coexist. Europe may seek greater strategic autonomy, but achieving it will require substantial investment, industrial development and time before dependence on external defense technologies can be significantly reduced.