Netanyahu says India among Israel’s close friends, rejects ‘US only ally’ remark

Netanyahu praised India's friendship with Israel, saying the country has several close partners even as he reaffirmed the strength of the US-Israel alliance

PGurus Newsdesk

July 6, 2026

Benjamin Netanyahu highlighted India's growing strategic importance while reaffirming the enduring US-Israel partnership

Netanyahu said Israel also has “some other friends like India,” highlighting New Delhi’s growing strategic partnership with Jerusalem

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel values its relationship with the United States but also shares strong ties with other countries, including India, after US Vice President JD Vance reportedly described America as Israel’s “only ally.”

Responding to the remark, Netanyahu said Israel has “some other friends like India,” highlighting New Delhi’s growing strategic partnership with the Jewish state.

“Our alliance with the United States is unmatched, but we also have some other friends, like India, and many others around the world,” Netanyahu said, underlining that while Washington remains Israel’s closest partner, it is not the country’s only important international relationship.

His remarks come amid strengthening India-Israel ties across defence, technology, agriculture, cybersecurity and trade. Over the past decade, bilateral cooperation has expanded significantly, with both countries deepening strategic engagement across multiple sectors.

The comments also come at a time when geopolitical alignments in West Asia continue to evolve amid regional security challenges. India has maintained close diplomatic engagement with Israel while simultaneously pursuing balanced relations across the Middle East.

Netanyahu’s reference to India is being seen as an acknowledgement of the growing strategic partnership between the two nations, which has witnessed increased cooperation in defence manufacturing, intelligence sharing, innovation and critical technologies.

While reaffirming the importance of the US-Israel alliance, Netanyahu suggested that Israel’s expanding global partnerships, including with India, have become an important pillar of its foreign policy.

The statement comes ahead of Netanyahu’s expected visit to Washington, where regional security, Iran and bilateral cooperation are likely to feature prominently in discussions with US President Donald Trump.

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