Netanyahu says Israel is building new alliances with India amid strain in US ties

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said his government is working to build new alliances and deepen relationships with countries beyond the United States, naming India as a key partner. He made the remarks in an interview released on Wednesday with Israeli journalist Sharon Gal. The comments come as Israel seeks to broaden its diplomatic options at a time of apparent friction with Washington.

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Netanyahu said Israel has been actively trying to forge new ties with major world powers. "You have to build new alliances and develop new relationships. That's what I'm doing right now with India," he said.

The interview did not set out any new agreement or formal diplomatic step, but it framed India as central to Israel's wider outreach. The remarks were presented as part of a broader discussion about Israel's foreign policy direction. The comments were made against the backdrop of tensions in the relationship between Tel Aviv and Washington over the war in West Asia against Iran and the crisis in Lebanon.

The report said some Israeli officials had criticised an initial peace agreement between the United States and Iran aimed at halting hostilities in the region. Netanyahu had also said that "the struggle is not yet over, and further challenges lie ahead." The exchange underlines how Israel's leadership is publicly balancing its reliance on the United States with efforts to expand other partnerships. India has long been one of Israel's most important partners outside the Western alliance system, and Netanyahu's remarks point to the political value he places on that relationship.

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He later echoed that view in comments responding to criticism from US Vice President JD Vance, saying Israel has "some other friends, like a small country called India" and noting its population of 1.4 billion. The reference was used to illustrate that Israel sees support from India as significant, even as it remains closely tied to Washington on security and diplomacy. The timing of the comments is notable because they were made while Israel was dealing with regional conflict and a sensitive relationship with the United States.

Public remarks about alternative alliances can signal both diplomatic diversification and a desire to show that Israel is not dependent on a single partner. They can also reflect domestic political messaging, especially when leaders are under pressure over war, ceasefire and regional security decisions. In this case, the message was that India is part of a wider network of relationships Israel wants to strengthen.

What remains unclear is whether Netanyahu's comments will lead to any concrete diplomatic initiative with India or whether they were mainly a political signal. The interview did not mention a new visit, agreement or policy announcement. For now, the key issue is how Israel manages its ties with Washington while continuing to present India and other countries as important strategic partners.

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