We still don’t know what’s in the 2020 UK-Israel defence pact

The UK and Israel signed a secret military pact in 2020. British governments hate transparency, as we know so the public isn’t allowed to know anything of note about this defence agreement.

This week we were reminded of its existence once again by journalist Matt Kennard.

Did you know Britain signed a military agreement with Israel in 2020 and we're never allowed to know what's in it?

It may commit us to "mutual self-defence"

It may explain the spy missions we flew for Israel during its genocidal campaign in Gaza

We need to know what's in it pic.twitter.com/5PiWJWIhf5

— Matt Kennard (@kennardmatt) April 11, 2026

When the agreement was done, there were many celebratory social media posts, including from the Israeli military.

IDF Chief of General Staff LTG Aviv Kohavi virtually met with United Kingdom Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Sir Nick Carter yesterday and signed a joint agreement to formalize and enhance our defense relationship, and support the growing Israel-UK partnership. pic.twitter.com/PZId9giLyt

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) December 3, 2020

Here is the head of strategy of the Foreign, Common and Development Office, Neil Wigan, a former UK ambassador to Israel, doing the same.

Delighted to announce that UK and Israeli Chiefs of Defence Staff yesterday signed a new 🇬🇧 🇮🇱 agreement to further deepen our military co-operation. https://t.co/eGPnMoK3Al

— Neil Wigan (@FCDONeilWigan) December 4, 2020

You can read an excellent breakdown of recent UK-Israel military cooperation here for context.

Defence agreement to boost ‘military cooperation’

In 2020, the UK Defence Journal (UKDJ) wrote:

Most of the agreement is highly classified, but the cooperation will include defence medical training, organisational design concepts and defence education.

UKDJ also cited a UK-Israel thinktank named BICOM as having said:

Military cooperation has been growing over the last decade with the relationship viewed as mutually beneficial.

The same report stated:

In October, it was reported that the British had been given access to Israel’s Rhino mobile headquarters, designed by Elbit Systems. The British Army said the system helps to “reduce the size of the headquarters, makes it less vulnerable and able to make and communicate decisions faster.

Israel’s Rhino headquarters is a form of networked command vehicle. You can read about it via Army Recognition.

An October 2020 article on Middle East Forum said:

For three weeks in October the British looked at various new technologies. One of the innovative designs is by Israel’s Elbit Systems and is called the “Rhino mobile headquarters.” It uses advanced digital technology to link together units in the field and commanders with the best information possible to help achieve results on the battlefield.

It added:

As part of the United Kingdom’s transition to a more digital army, a global trend, Israel’s leadership in networked command centers is being examined to meet London’s needs.

The US, Israel and others use AI on the battlefield to sift through targets in fast-moving combat situations.

The issue is that you have a huge amount of information coming into headquarters but you need to be able to sift through it rapidly and make decisions…

Behind it all is artificial intelligence and computer algorithms that help digest the information and make it relevant. This connected battlespace includes tanks, soldiers, jets, and everything else on the field of battle.

Israel and US forces have made extensive use of AI in Venezuela, Iran and Gaza. AI technology could be at the centre of the UK-Israel defence pact, but official secrecy means it’s very hard to know exactly what the agreement contains.

And as long-time reporter on military and intelligence issues Richard Norton-Taylor reminds us, the real “English disease” has always been the British government’s addiction to state secrecy.

Featured image via the Canary