Former IAF chief Norkin: Israel must turn its tech edge into strategic alliances

As President Donald Trump says Washington will end billions of dollars in annual military assistance to Israel, former IAF chief Maj.-Gen (res.) Amikam Norkin says Israel must use its technological capabilities to strengthen international partnerships and reduce its vulnerability to geopolitical shifts.Israel cannot afford to stand alone in an increasingly unpredictable international environment, former Israel Air Force commander Maj.-Gen. (res.) Amikam Norkin warned, arguing that the country's technological capabilities must become a central instrument of its foreign policy and strategic relationships.Norkin's remarks come amid growing uncertainty surrounding the future of US military assistance to Israel, after US President Donald Trump announced last week that Washington would stop providing approximately $4 billion in annual aid by the end of the year.The announcement, which Trump said followed discussions with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has raised questions about the future structure of the longstanding US-Israel defense relationship. The existing 10-year memorandum of understanding provides Israel with $38b.in military assistance through September 2028, and it remains unclear how Washington would implement an earlier cutoff.Netanyahu's office subsequently described a transition "from aid to partnership" as evidence of the strength of the bilateral relationship, without directly denying Trump's announcement. The possibility of restructuring the relationship around joint defense development and weapons production has also been discussed.The comments were made at the launch of the geo-technology center…