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Israel has become a key player in the global arms trade. In 2024, its exports reached a record high of $14.8 billion, placing this country of only ten million inhabitants eighth in the world. More than half of these sales were made to European countries seeking to strengthen their defenses against Russian and Iranian threats. These contracts are not limited to revenue: they give Israel a form of “diplomatic insurance” that reduces the risk of sanctions against its policy in Gaza.

The most emblematic example is the $4.3 billion contract signed with Germany for the Arrow 3 interceptor system, capable of neutralizing ballistic missiles outside the atmosphere. Berlin has since announced the purchase of the future Arrow 4. The United Kingdom, for its part, has acquired Israeli drones, missiles, and guidance systems. In effect, this equipment creates a lasting link between European armies and Israeli industry, making any political break difficult. As one Israeli diplomat sums it up: "These countries are invested in Israel for their national security. "

The competitiveness of the Israeli offer is based on a decisive advantage: its weapons have already been tested in combat. American Abrams tanks have been equipped with the Israeli Trophy system, which has been used for years against Hezbollah and Hamas. Spike NLOS missiles are also used by the US military. Even French reluctance to purchase non-European solutions is met with a pragmatic argument: faced with the urgency of the threat, Israeli systems are available and proven, while some European projects remain on the drawing board.

This strategy extends beyond Europe. In the United States, Donald Trump's “Golden Dome” program is expected to rely on Israeli technology, despite the stated desire to favor domestic industry. India, a long-standing partner, has co-developed the Barak missile with Israel, which is now used by several NATO navies. In some cases, exports go through Western subsidiaries, which allows political reluctance to be discreetly circumvented.

Israel's image remains tarnished by the war in Gaza. The United Kingdom has banned Israeli officials from participating in its arms fair, and France concealed its stands behind black screens at the last Paris Air Show. These gestures appear to be largely symbolic. The Economist

IN SHORT

🇮🇱 Israel - 🇵🇸 Palestine • The Israeli army claims to control 40% of Gaza City after destroying dozens of buildings during its latest offensive. Satellite images reveal that several neighborhoods, including Sheikh Radwan, Zeitoun, and Tuffah, were razed in August and September, with traces of Israeli armored vehicles and the disappearance of tents sheltering displaced persons. The UN estimates that 1.9 million Gazans, or 90% of the population, have fled their homes. According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, more than 64,000 people have been killed since the start of the war. BBC

🇷🇺 Russia • Vladimir Putin warned that any deployment of Western troops in Ukraine would be a “legitimate target” for the Russian army, responding to Emmanuel Macron's plan for post-conflict security guarantees supported by 26 countries. Donald Trump announced the end of several US military programs in Eastern Europe, including the $225 million Baltic Security Initiative, a sign of a strategic refocusing on the Indo-Pacific that is worrying NATO allies.

🇮🇱 Israel - 🇫🇷 France • Tel Aviv is considering closing the French consulate in Jerusalem in response to Emmanuel Macron's intention to recognize the Palestinian state. The Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister told franceinfo that she hoped this closure would take place, recalling that similar measures had already been taken against Norway and Ireland. Senior Israeli officials are also threatening to seize several French religious sites, including the Tomb of the Kings in East Jerusalem, while Paris is working with other countries to prepare a UN conference on the two-state solution. franceinfo

🇬🇧 United Kingdom • Keir Starmer carries out a major government reshuffle after the resignation of his deputy prime minister Angela Rayner, who was caught up in a tax evasion scandal. Struggling in the polls against Nigel Farage's anti-immigration Reform UK party, the Labour prime minister is attempting to revive his fortunes. Several ministers have been ousted, including Ian Murray and Lucy Powell. According to the British press, David Lammy becomes Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice, Yvette Cooper takes over Foreign Affairs, and Shabana Mahmood inherits the Interior.

🇪🇺 European Union • The EU has unveiled 47 strategic projects to secure its supply of critical raw materials such as lithium, cobalt, and nickel, which are essential for batteries and renewable energy. With a total investment of €22.5 billion, these projects focus on extraction, processing, recycling, and substitution, with sites in France. The goal is to reduce dependence on China, which currently accounts for almost all of the world's refining, and to strengthen industrial sovereignty, which is still incomplete.

🇪🇺 Europe • Germany has inaugurated Jupiter, the continent's first exascale supercomputer, designed to close the European gap in artificial intelligence compared to the United States and China. The machine can perform a quintillion calculations per second thanks to 24,000 Nvidia chips, at a cost of €500 million shared between Berlin and Brussels. Beyond AI, its uses will include climate research, energy transition, and health

**🇹🇭 Thailand • Conservative real estate magnate Anutin Charnvirakul becomes the third prime minister in two years, with 331 votes out of 492 in Parliament. A former health minister, he made a name for himself in 2022 by decriminalizing cannabis while defending a conservative line. His appointment comes after the dismissal of Paetongtarn Shinawatra, daughter of former Prime Minister Thaksin, now in exile.

🇻🇦 Vatican • The first-ever LGBTQIA+ pilgrimage to the Vatican is taking place today and tomorrow, bringing together around 1,300 participants from some 20 countries. Initiated by the Italian association Tenda di Gionata and included in the official calendar of the 2025 Jubilee, the event received the support of the Jesuits and the approval of Pope Francis before his death. Despite internal reluctance, the mass was presided over by an Italian bishop, and Pope Leo XIV confirmed, when receiving Father James Martin, his desire to continue the process of openness initiated by his predecessor.

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