Near Ending His Term Joe Biden Is Going All Out On His Policies On Israel ($680 Arms Sales Package ) And Ukraine ($725 Million Arms Aid Package). Why Now?

As President Joe Biden’s term inches towards its conclusion, he’s ramping up his international policy efforts with significant arms aid packages to two of America’s closest strategic allies: Israel and Ukraine.

However, the timing and scale of these moves—$680 million for Israel and $725 million for Ukraine—brings forth some important questions, especially given the geopolitical tensions involved but we will address these later.

A Closer Look at the Israel Package

The Biden administration is advancing a $680 million arms sales package to Israel, confirmed by a U.S. official on Wednesday, as a U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon takes effect. Despite this ceasefire, tensions remain high as Israel continues its fight with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

The package includes thousands of Joint Direct Attack Munition kits (JDAMs) and hundreds of small-diameter bombs. This deal follows a $20 billion sale of fighter jets and military equipment to Israel in August. Additionally, since the start of the Gaza war in October 2023, Washington has provided Israel with over 10,000 2,000-pound bombs and thousands of Hellfire missiles, according to reports.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged the delays in weapons deliveries as a key reason for agreeing to the ceasefire, stating that these delays would soon be resolved.

Congressional Debate and Opposition

The arms package has been under review since September and was submitted to Congress in October. Despite ongoing negotiations, progressive U.S. senators, including Bernie Sanders, introduced resolutions to block the sale, citing humanitarian concerns over the situation in Gaza. However, the Senate rejected these resolutions last week, clearing the way for the deal before Republican President-elect Donald Trump assumes office in January.

Biden’s unwavering support for Israel has been evident since the October 2023 Hamas-led attack, which left 1,200 Israelis dead and over 250 hostages taken. In response, Gaza has faced severe devastation, with over 43,922 Palestinians reportedly killed and a majority of its 2.3 million residents displaced, raising fears of a looming famine.

Legal and Ethical Considerations

Under U.S. law, Congress must be notified of significant foreign military sales. An informal review process allows bipartisan leaders of the foreign affairs committees to evaluate these agreements before formal notification.

Even though a State Department spokesperson declined to confirm the latest sale he reaffirmed the U.S.’s unwavering support for Israel’s security against Iran-backed threats while emphasizing Israel’s moral obligation to protect civilians.

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Biden Prepares $725 Million Arms Aid Package for Ukraine

At the same time Joe Biden’s administration is preparing a $725 million weapons package for Ukraine, according to two U.S. officials. This significant military aid aims to strengthen Kyiv’s defenses against Russia’s advancing forces before Biden leaves office in January.

The package, as described by an official familiar with the plan, includes a variety of anti-tank weapons sourced from U.S. stockpiles. Key components are expected to be land mines, drones, Stinger missiles, and ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS). Additionally, cluster munitions—typically fired from HIMARS launchers using Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) rockets—are also anticipated.

A formal notification to Congress could be issued as early as Monday, though the contents and size of the package may still change before Biden signs it.

A Significant Increase in Aid

This package represents a substantial increase in size compared to previous uses of Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA), which allows the U.S. to supply allies with weapons from existing stockpiles in emergencies.

Previous PDA allocations have ranged from $125 million to $250 million. Biden is expected to use between $4 billion and $5 billion in remaining PDA funds, already authorized by Congress, before Republican President-elect Donald Trump assumes office on January 20.

The Controversy Over Landmines

However, a controversy of sorts erupted over the inclusion of land mines in the package is notable, as the U.S. has not exported them in decades due to their potential threat to civilians.

Although more than 160 countries have signed a treaty banning landmine use, Ukraine has been requesting them since Russia’s full-scale invasion in early 2022. Russian forces have reportedly deployed land mines extensively along the front lines.

However, the mines sent to Ukraine would be “non-persistent,” designed with a limited power system that renders them non-lethal after a short period. Unlike traditional land mines, these would not pose a long-term threat to civilians. The U.S. expects Ukraine to use these mines strictly within its own territory, avoiding civilian-populated areas.

Different Strokes For Different Folks

When it comes to shipping arms to Ukraine, the Biden administration is anything but quiet. Each shipment is announced with fanfare, emphasizing support for “the brave Ukrainian people” as they defend their country, as Secretary of State Antony Blinken spotlighted last month.

The White House insists on transparency, keen to show how taxpayer money is being spent on Ukraine’s defense efforts.
However, this openess shifts when arms are sent to Israel. While American and Israeli media occasionally leak details, the Biden administration prefers to keep these transfers under the radar.

Transparency in these cases often emerges from classified briefings, not public announcements. For instance, The Washington Post revealed that over 100 arms transfers to Israel have occurred, ranging from missiles to small arms. Israeli media reported that 244 cargo planes and 20 ships have delivered more than 10,000 tons of U.S. military aid to Israel.

Ukraine vs. Israel

Biden faces ongoing criticism for not sending enough equipment to Ukraine, making public declarations of arms shipments strategically advantageous. Such announcements encourage European allies to increase their support.

On the other hand, the Democratic Party remains divided over the Gaza conflict, with some members urging fewer arms transfers to Israel. Publicizing these transfers could intensify internal debate.

As Daniel C. Kurtzer, former U.S. ambassador to Israel and Egypt, noted: “The administration ensures the pro-Israel community knows about the transfers but avoids inflaming the opposition. The word gets out, but it’s not front-page news.”

Different Weapons, Different Contexts

Both Ukraine and Israel heavily depend on U.S. weaponry. Ukraine is struggling against Russia, facing shortages in troops and munitions. Meanwhile, Israel is considering a southern Gaza invasion while bracing for potential conflicts with Hezbollah in Lebanon or Iran.

However, the context of usage diverges. Ukraine uses American arms primarily against invading forces. Israel, after facing a brutal Hamas incursion on October 7, has used U.S. weaponry in a manner that reportedly resulted in thousands of civilian deaths, including women, children, aid workers, and journalists in Gaza.

This humanitarian toll is likely why the Biden administration avoids spotlighting its role in Israel’s military actions.
Moreover, little is publicly known about how U.S. arms are used once they reach Israel. Are they deployed in Gaza or the West Bank? Could they end up with battalions under scrutiny for alleged human rights abuses?

The U.S. Role in the Global Arms Trade

From 2017 to 2021, the United States accounted for 39% of major global weapons deliveries, according to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). This is double Russia’s market share and over eight times that of China.

Proponents of U.S. arms exports argue that these sales strengthen allies’ self-defense capabilities, stabilize key regions, deter adversaries, foster military-to-military relationships, enhance political and diplomatic influence, and create American jobs.

However, arms sales come with significant risks. They can fuel conflicts, provoke adversaries, ignite arms races, and entangle the U.S. in unnecessary or counterproductive wars. Additionally, they can empower partner nations to commit human rights abuses, often leading to backlash and aiding terrorist groups in recruitment.

In many cases, arms sales are driven more by the interests of defense contractors than by genuine security considerations.

Fueling More Fire

Rather than deterring conflict, U.S. arms policy often aggravates it. Currently, two-thirds of active conflicts—34 out of 46—involve at least one party armed by the U.S. While the scale of U.S. involvement varies, in some instances, these arms play a central role in sustaining the violence.

Between 2017 and 2021, 15 conflict-affected nations received over $50 million in U.S. arms, contradicting the very idea that such sales promote stability and deter aggression.

Though some transfers are for legitimate defense, many contribute to escalating tensions and regional arms races. A significant lack of transparency around the deployment of U.S.-supplied arms adds to the concern. Given the widespread presence of U.S. weapons in conflict zones, there is a pressing need for more rigorous tracking and accountability to assess their precise impact on these wars.

Now comes the question why is Joe Biden going all out when he is nearing his term?

There could be several potential reasons why President Biden is pushing these substantial aid packages for Israel and Ukraine as he nears the end of his term, both personal and strategic.

So what could be the personal motives?

• Presidents often focus on key foreign policy actions in their final months to solidify their legacy.

Therefore, by aiding two significant allies—Ukraine, in its defense against Russian aggression, and Israel, amid its ongoing regional tensions—could Biden be aiming to frame his presidency as one that stood firmly with democratic nations against authoritarian forces.

• Biden has frequently emphasized support for democracies and human rights. His unwavering support for Ukraine and Israel may stem from a personal conviction that the U.S. must uphold democratic principles globally, even at significant financial and political costs—so perhaps he is showcasing his morality and ethical considerations.

• Thirdly, perhaps its a parting message. These packages could serve as a final statement to future administrations, especially given the potential policy shift under an incoming President-elect like Donald Trump, who has suggested a different approach toward both conflicts.

Hence, by locking in aid now, Biden may be trying to secure continuity in U.S. foreign policy even after his departure.

And more importantly is this politically motivated, by approving these large aid packages, Biden might be intentionally increasing the problems for the coming Trump administration. It places moral and political pressure on future leaders to maintain these commitments or risk alienating key allies and damaging the U.S.’s global standing.

What do you think?