Jerusalem: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has identified India as a key strategic partner as Israel seeks to strengthen its global alliances amid signs of friction with the United States over developments in West Asia. Speaking in recent interviews, Netanyahu stressed the importance of expanding Israel’s diplomatic outreach beyond its traditional allies and described India as one of the country’s most significant international partners.
In an interview with Israeli journalist Sharon Gal, released on Wednesday, Netanyahu said Israel was actively working to build new relationships with major global powers. “You have to build new alliances and develop new relationships. That’s what I’m doing right now with India,” he said, underscoring New Delhi’s growing importance in Israel’s foreign policy.
The remarks come against the backdrop of reported differences between Tel Aviv and Washington regarding the US administration’s approach to the conflict involving Iran and the ongoing crisis in Lebanon. Earlier reports suggested that some Israeli officials had expressed reservations about an initial US-Iran peace arrangement aimed at reducing hostilities in the region. Netanyahu had also maintained that despite diplomatic efforts, “the struggle is not yet over” and additional challenges remain.
The tensions were further highlighted after US Vice President JD Vance reportedly advised Israeli leaders against publicly criticising the United States, describing Washington as Israel’s “only powerful ally” remaining on the global stage.
Responding to those remarks during a separate interview with Fox News, Netanyahu acknowledged his cordial relationship with Vance but disagreed with the suggestion that Israel lacked other strong international partners. He specifically pointed to India, saying the country of 1.4 billion people had shown tremendous support for Israel.
Netanyahu also referred to the strong response he receives from Indian users on social media, particularly Facebook, saying he is frequently overwhelmed by messages of encouragement from India. His comments reflect the growing warmth in India-Israel relations, which have expanded significantly over the past decade through cooperation in defence, agriculture, technology, innovation, and trade.
The latest remarks are being viewed as another indication of Israel’s efforts to diversify its diplomatic partnerships while reinforcing ties with countries that have become increasingly important in its foreign policy. India and Israel continue to maintain close strategic engagement, with both nations regularly cooperating on security, economic, and technological initiatives.
