Key facts
- Netanyahu cited '1.4 billion Indians' as evidence Israel has allies beyond the US
- JD Vance had called the US Israel's 'only ally'
- Netanyahu said: 'We have some other friends, like India'
- The exchange highlights India's quietly significant relationship with Israel
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu directly countered Vice President JD Vance's claim that the United States is Israel's "only ally", telling audiences that India — and its 1.4 billion people — stands among Israel's friends. The sharp public exchange between two of America's most prominent political figures over the nature of Israel's international support drew immediate global attention, with Netanyahu's invocation of India adding an unexpected South Asian dimension to the debate.
Vance had made the "only ally" remark in what was characterised as a critique of international isolation around Israel's military campaign, suggesting that Washington stands alone in its backing. Netanyahu's swift rebuttal — "We have some other friends, like India" — was notable not merely as a diplomatic correction but as a pointed signal that Israel counts New Delhi as a meaningful partner on the world stage.
India has historically maintained a careful balancing act in West Asian affairs, sustaining strong ties with both Israel and the Arab world, while avoiding explicit condemnation of Israeli military operations in Gaza at the United Nations. Netanyahu's public citation of India reflects how Tel Aviv perceives that posture — as de facto support, even when New Delhi stops short of full-throated endorsement.
The episode is likely to prompt fresh debate in Indian foreign policy circles about the country's positioning on the Israel-Gaza conflict, and whether Netanyahu's framing accurately reflects — or overreaches — the official Indian stance. For everyday Indians, it is a reminder that India's geopolitical choices carry weight far beyond its own neighbourhood.