Facing the Iranian Threat, Amir Baram Calls for a New Regional Alliance

‏‏Israel Ministry Of Defense@ Amir Baram

Speaking at the Herzliya Conference held at Reichman University, Major General (Res.) Amir Baram, Director General of Israel's Ministry of Defense, presented a comprehensive assessment of the strategic challenges facing Israel. In a speech focused on regional security and the shifting geopolitical landscape, he called for targeted military reinforcement, the establishment of a new regional security architecture, and a deeper strategic partnership with the United States.

According to Baram, the ongoing war has fundamentally reshaped the balance of power in the Middle East. More importantly, it has highlighted to regional actors the heavy price of Iran's military expansion, creating an unprecedented convergence of strategic interests among several countries.

"The war has generated a shared interest in forming a broader alliance stretching from India to the United Arab Emirates, through Greece and Cyprus," he said.

In Baram's view, this emerging cooperation should extend well beyond the military sphere. It could pave the way for new economic, technological, and industrial partnerships, combining Israel's proven defense expertise with the Gulf states' financial strength and the development of new regional corridors. Together, these assets could form the foundation of a new strategic framework for regional cooperation.

The Director General also expressed concern over ongoing international discussions that could lead to the easing of sanctions on Tehran. According to Baram, such agreements could inject "hundreds of billions of dollars" into Iran's economy, significantly accelerating the country's military buildup.

"The State of Israel must prepare itself through targeted military reinforcement while promoting a new regional security architecture, first and foremost with its strategic ally, the United States, as well as with other partners," he stated.

Addressing Israel's relationship with Washington, Baram responded to domestic criticism of current U.S. policy, emphasizing that the differences between the two allies do not stem from their assessment of the Iranian threat, but rather from their differing strategic priorities.

He stressed that, for Israel, Iran remains an existential threat. The United States, by contrast, views Iran primarily as a persistent regional challenge, while its foremost strategic concern is China's growing influence in the Indo-Pacific.

"We think about Tehran; they think about Taiwan," Baram remarked, succinctly illustrating the differing perspectives of the two allies.

He further noted that the Pentagon must now allocate its resources across multiple global challenges, including support for Ukraine, instability in the Middle East, and preparations for a potential confrontation in the Taiwan Strait. Within this broader strategic framework, a prolonged conflict in the Middle East does not align with American global priorities.

Despite these differences, Baram expressed confidence in the future of the U.S.-Israel alliance. He revealed that a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on security cooperation is currently being developed.

According to him, this next-generation agreement must be based not only on the shared democratic values that unite the two countries but also on clearly defined strategic interests that will strengthen both nations for years to come.

Baram also highlighted the extraordinary efforts undertaken by the Ministry of Defense since the outbreak of the war to accelerate Israel's defense production capabilities.

He explained that emergency authorities were used to eliminate industrial bottlenecks, secure critical raw materials, expand domestic production lines, and recruit a specialized workforce to support Israel's defense industries.

As a result, Israel has been able to steadily increase its stockpiles of interceptors for its Arrow, David's Sling, and Iron Dome missile defense systems, despite the continued intensity of military operations.

Caroline Haïat