Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said India is a strong friend of Israel, countering claims that the U.S. is the nation's only powerful ally [1].
The exchange highlights a diplomatic tension regarding Israel's strategic dependencies. By citing New Delhi, Netanyahu is signaling that Israel maintains critical global partnerships beyond its traditional relationship with Washington.
During a press briefing in Tel Aviv on July 6 [2], Netanyahu responded to remarks made by U.S. Vice President JD Vance. Vance had previously suggested that the United States stands as the sole powerful ally supporting Israel.
"We have some other friends," Netanyahu said [3].
The prime minister specifically pointed to the scale of support available in India to refute the notion of U.S. exclusivity. He said that India is a strong friend of Israel [1] and emphasized the demographic weight of that partnership.
"1.4 billion people, we have tremendous support there," Netanyahu said [4].
This public correction comes as Israel continues to navigate complex geopolitical waters. While the U.S. remains a primary security partner, the Israeli leadership has increasingly emphasized its ties with other major powers to diversify its diplomatic portfolio. The mention of India's population of 1.4 billion [4] serves as a reminder of the vast strategic, and economic potential of the Indo-Israeli relationship.
Netanyahu did not elaborate on specific military or economic agreements during the briefing, but the timing of his response suggests a desire to maintain autonomy in Israel's foreign policy. By acknowledging "other friends" [3], the prime minister shifted the narrative from a bilateral dependency to a broader network of international support.
“"We have some other friends," Netanyahu said.”
Netanyahu's public correction of Vice President Vance reflects a strategic effort to project Israeli diplomatic independence. By explicitly naming India, Israel is signaling to the U.S. that it is not solely reliant on Washington for high-level geopolitical support, while simultaneously strengthening its strategic bond with New Delhi.
