WASHINGTON (AP) – With a nod to Israel’s increasingly normalized relations with the Arab world, the Pentagon is reorganizing its global command structure to include the Jewish state in the military sphere administered by the head of the United States Central Command.
The move, from the US European Command to the command that controls US military relations and operations in the Middle East, was announced on Friday. The Wall Street Journal, which was the first to report the change, said it was ordered by President Donald Trump. It does not portend changes in the bases of US forces in the Middle East or Europe.
For decades, Israel was in the sphere of European Command due to the hostile nature of its relations with many Arab countries, a condition that made it difficult for Central Command to do business with Israel and the Arab world. The Central Command’s area of responsibility extends from the Middle East to Central Asia, including the Persian Gulf region, as well as Afghanistan and Pakistan.
In its announcement, the Pentagon said that the change in what it calls the Unified Command Plan reflects the easing of tensions between Israel and some Arab countries. He said last year’s Abraham Agreements, which normalized Israel’s relationship with Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco and Sudan, “provided a strategic opportunity” for the United States “to align key partners against shared threats in the Middle East” – an apparent reference to the creation of a more united front against Iran.
“Israel is a leading strategic partner for the United States and this will open additional opportunities for cooperation with our US Central Command partners, while maintaining strong cooperation between Israel and our European allies,” said the Pentagon.