America Must Maintain Senior Partner Status in US-Israel Alliance
Source: Joseph Addington. "America First, Israel Second - The American Conservative." March 29, 2026. www.theamericanconservative.com
The Gist
America should keep its alliance with Israel because Israel is useful and fights our enemies, but America must always be the boss who calls the shots. This isn't mean - it's just realistic since America is much more powerful and pays the bills.
Conclusion
The US-Israel alliance should continue, but only with America as the clear senior partner setting terms based on American interests first
Premises
- America built and maintains the global alliance system to advance American interests, not as charity
- Israel is uniquely valuable among Middle Eastern partners because it actively fights shared enemies and provides intelligence and technology
- Most other Middle Eastern partners are unreliable arrangements of convenience that hedge when pressure rises
- American power vastly exceeds Israeli power in economy ($28T vs $550B), population (340M vs 10M), and global influence
- Clear hierarchy prevents strategic confusion, drift, and resentment that could turn useful alliances into liabilities
- America First means prioritization and discipline in alliances, not isolation from the world
Assumptions
- International alliances should be primarily transactional rather than based on shared values or moral obligations
- Power differentials naturally and rightfully determine alliance hierarchy
- Israel will continue to be a reliable partner if America maintains clear leadership
- American interests can be clearly distinguished from and should take precedence over partner interests
- Regional stability depends on American leadership rather than multilateral cooperation