אספקת נשק אסטרטגי בין מדינות בעלות יחסים מיוחדים: מקרה הבוחן של אספקת צוללות דולפין מגרמניה לישראל

Bilateral ”Special Relationship“ is a well-known phenomenon in the scholarly literature; so is the supply of strategic weapon systems between countries. This paper focuses on the possible links between these two issues. I argue that dyads that practice a high level of bilateral relations inthe form of a special relationship will be willing to supply one another with weapons of a strategic nature and with improved procurement terms. I do so by analyzing the case study of the supply of Dolphin submarines from Germany to Israel. This case represents two countries that are considered to have special relations and the weapon systems supplied are regarded as strategic weapon systems. Examining the process leading to the supply of these strategic weapons reveals that the special relations influenced the decisions to supply such weapons. These decisions were made based on one country’s moral obligation towards another. These decisions were not based solely on strategic considerations, and they sometimes contradicted official policy. The importance of the special relations between countries is evident through the supply of strategic weapons from one country to another, hence, contributing to the safety and survival of the recipient country.