'Mr. Security': Inside Amir Baram's mission to secure Israel's military future, defense ties

Amir Baram, the Defense Ministry's director-general, is navigating Israel's defense interests amid a challenging diplomatic environment. A key focus is negotiating a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the US for 2028-2038, aiming to transform defense aid into a partnership. These talks have been delayed, raising concerns about securing an agreement before a new US Congress takes office in January, which could face increased opposition.

• Baram is also tasked with implementing a push for greater Israeli independence in weapons production, including "dumb bombs" and precision bombs, to support a doctrinal shift towards readiness for longer wars.
• He publicly rebuked the view that Israel should only fight shorter wars, stating the IDF "must be ready for this style of long war, regardless of convenience."
• While defense sales to Europe remain strong in some areas, like the Arrow 3 to Germany, overall sales dropped between 2024 and 2025.
• France, in particular, has partially boycotted Israel's defense sector and has been accused by the Defense Ministry of trying to undermine Israel as a competitor.