Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has praised India’s support for Israel, saying the country enjoys “tremendous” backing from India as he responded to US Vice President JD Vance’s assertion that the United States is Israel’s “only powerful ally.”
Netanyahu made the remarks during an interview with Fox News, emphasizing that Israel has strong international partnerships beyond the United States.
Netanyahu Praises India’s Support
Responding to Vance’s comments, Netanyahu pointed to India’s longstanding relationship with Israel.
“We have some other friends, like a small country called India, you know, it has 1.4 billion people and, boy, do we have tremendous support there.”
The Israeli leader also referred to the public response he receives from India on social media, saying he has seen significant support from Indian users on Facebook.
Strong India-Israel Partnership
India and Israel have strengthened bilateral ties over the past decade through cooperation in areas including defence, technology, agriculture, innovation and trade.
Earlier this year, Netanyahu described Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a “personal friend” and referred to India as a “global power.”
During Prime Minister Modi’s state visit to Israel in February, the two leaders reaffirmed their strategic partnership amid regional tensions.
Why JD Vance’s Remarks Sparked Debate
Netanyahu’s comments came a day after US Vice President JD Vance said the United States remained Israel’s only powerful ally.
Speaking during a press briefing, Vance said President Donald Trump was the only world leader currently showing strong support for Israel and noted that much of Israel’s military equipment during recent conflicts had been supplied and financed by the United States.
While acknowledging his respect for Vance, Netanyahu said he did not agree with every aspect of the vice president’s assessment.
Netanyahu Highlights Israel’s Global Partnerships
The Israeli prime minister argued that several countries seek closer cooperation with Israel, particularly in defence technology, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence.
According to Netanyahu, international leaders frequently approach Israel for collaboration and expertise in military innovation and advanced technologies.
Reports of US-Israel Differences Continue
Netanyahu’s remarks come amid continued reports of differences between the Israeli and US administrations over regional security and diplomacy.
Recent media reports have suggested disagreements regarding the handling of the Iran conflict and broader Middle East strategy, although both governments continue to maintain close security and strategic cooperation.
Despite periodic differences over policy, the United States remains Israel’s closest defence partner, while Israel also maintains diplomatic and strategic relationships with countries including India.
