The US learned of Israel's nuclear weapons years ago but remained silent

Declassified 1960s U.S. documents reveal that Washington knew about Israel’s nuclear program far earlier than previously acknowledged, with secret memos prepared by Henry Kissinger assessing the likelihood that Israel would develop nuclear weapons. The records show the U.S. administration gradually abandoned its policy of inspections and diplomatic pressure over the program. According to SIPRI estimates, Israel now holds roughly 90 nuclear warheads. The disclosure matters because it clarifies how a central U.S. ally acquired a nuclear arsenal without ever formally declaring it, shaping decades of ambiguous arms-control arrangements. What to watch next is whether the newly declassified material prompts further scrutiny of how Washington reconciled nonproliferation goals with its strategic ties to Israel.