Netanyahu Says Israel Enjoys Strong Indian Support, Pushes Back Against JD Vance's Comments

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected the suggestion that the United States is Israel's only powerful ally, highlighting India's support for Israel while responding to recent remarks by US Vice President JD Vance. Speaking in an interview with Fox News on Sunday, Netanyahu said Israel enjoys "tremendous" backing from India, underscoring the growing strategic relationship between the two countries alongside its longstanding alliance with the United States.

Netanyahu's remarks came after Vance reportedly described the United States as Israel's "only powerful ally." Disagreeing with that assessment, the Israeli prime minister pointed to India's global stature and its support for 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," Netanyahu said during the interview, emphasising that Israel's international partnerships extend beyond Washington.

The Israeli leader also referred to the support he receives from Indian users on social media, saying he has witnessed overwhelming backing from the country on Facebook. "You know, I have this Facebook thing, and I have overwhelming support there. I may have many others," Netanyahu said. While his comments focused on public sentiment, they also reflected the increasingly close diplomatic ties that have developed between India and Israel over the past decade.

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India and Israel have significantly expanded cooperation across defence, agriculture, technology, innovation and trade in recent years. The relationship has also been strengthened by regular high-level engagements between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Netanyahu. Earlier this year, Netanyahu described Modi as a "personal friend" and referred to India as a "global power," highlighting the importance Israel places on its partnership with New Delhi.

Prime Minister Modi visited Israel on a state visit in February, reaffirming India's support for the bilateral relationship. During the visit, Modi said India stood with Israel "firmly with full conviction." The visit took place shortly before Israel and the United States launched a surprise military strike on Iran, an action that later escalated into a broader conflict. India has consistently called for dialogue and de-escalation while maintaining close ties with both Israel and countries across the Middle East.

Netanyahu's latest remarks underscore Israel's efforts to highlight its expanding network of international partnerships amid evolving geopolitical dynamics. While the United States remains Israel's closest strategic and security partner, the Israeli prime minister's comments reflect the growing significance of relationships with countries such as India. As regional tensions continue to shape global diplomacy, cooperation between New Delhi and Tel Aviv is expected to remain an important pillar of both countries' foreign policy agendas.

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