State Department comments on questions about redirecting arms meant for Ukraine to Israel
Addressing speculation in recent media reports, U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller provided context on how American military aid to Ukraine and Israel are coordinated to meet distinct national security needs during a briefing on Oct. 23.
"There is very little overlap between what Israel has requested and what it needs and what Ukraine has requested and what it needs.”
Miller could not refute or confirm media speculation about individual weapons systems until the United States announces what it will provide to Israel and Ukraine in the future.
Washington will work "as hard as [it] can" to make sure it can supply both countries with what they need to defend themselves, but this requires Congress to pass the supplemental funding request.
Axios reported that the Pentagon plans to send Israel "tens of thousands" of 155-mm artillery rounds that were set aside for Ukraine from American stockpiles.
The New York Times reported that according to a Pentagon official, the United States would send tens of thousands of 155-mm artillery rounds to Israel, which it had previously vowed to give to Ukraine, as Jerusalem needed them for a ground offensive in the Gaza Strip.
The United States announced its intention to reduce the amount of aid to Ukraine from $1.1 billion to $825 million per month. President Joe Biden addressed Congress with this request for emergency funding to help Ukraine.
The White House requested nearly $106 billion from Congress for Ukraine, Israel, and other priority areas on Oct. 20. The request for Ukraine includes $61.4 billion, while the request for Israel stands at $14.3 billion.
Israel received the first batch of armored vehicles from the United States to replace those damaged in the fighting against the Hamas militant group on Oct. 19.
U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said that Washington has enough capabilities to simultaneously support Ukraine in its war with Russia and Israel in its conflict with Hamas.
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