By Andrew L. Jaffee

Israel is tightening its bonds with the West, rightfully so. From Reuters:

Israel announced on Monday it would fully participate in a NATO naval exercise for the first time, bolstering defense ties with the Western military alliance in the face of arch-foe Iran’s nuclear program.

Israeli military officials said the exercise, dubbed Cooperation Mako, would take place next month in the Black Sea and involve simulated combat between missile boat fleets as well as search-and-rescue drills.

“This marks the first time a unit of the Israel Navy will fully participate in an operational NATO exercise,” said an Israeli military statement. Israel had previously held only observer status in such maneuvers. …

Some Western officials have speculated that Israel would eventually apply to join NATO’s 26 member-states. “If Iran feels that Israel is … in the pact, it will behave differently,” former Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar said in March.

But full membership is seen as unlikely in Israel, given its tradition of going it alone on matters of top military priority.

Hmmm. I’m not sure I buy this “going it alone” stuff. Hopefully, this exercise will pave the way for Israel’s full membership in NATO.

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Related: Israel, United States, Europe

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