Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed suggestions that the United States is Israel's only major ally, saying the country enjoys strong support from several nations, including India. The remarks came during an interview with Fox News, where Netanyahu responded to comments made by US Vice President JD Vance. Vance had recently described the United States as Israel's "only powerful ally" while discussing Washington's role in supporting Israel amid rising tensions in the Middle East.

While reaffirming the importance of the US-Israel relationship, Netanyahu said the description did not reflect the full picture. "We have some other friends," Netanyahu said, adding that Israel receives "tremendous support in India," a country with more than 1.4 billion people. He also pointed to the large number of pro-Israel messages from Indian citizens on social media as an example of the goodwill Israel enjoys.

Despite his disagreement with Vance's assessment, Netanyahu emphasized that the United States remains Israel's closest strategic partner and thanked President Donald Trump for his continued support. He described Trump as one of Israel's strongest friends and said the alliance between the two countries remains firm despite differences over certain policy issues.

Vance's comments came during a recent discussion on US foreign policy, where he stressed that Israel should recognize the importance of its relationship with Washington. He argued that American military, financial and diplomatic support has been crucial to Israel's security and urged Israeli leaders to avoid actions that could strain ties with the United States.

Netanyahu, however, maintained that Israel's international partnerships extend beyond Washington. Along with India, he suggested that several countries continue to maintain friendly relations with Israel, reflecting the country's growing diplomatic engagement across different regions. India and Israel have significantly expanded bilateral ties over the past decade. The two nations cooperate closely in areas such as defence, agriculture, cybersecurity, innovation, water management and advanced technology. Political and strategic engagement has also strengthened through regular high-level interactions and growing economic cooperation.

Netanyahu's comments come at a time when Israel is working to reinforce its international partnerships amid ongoing regional security challenges. His reference to India underscores the increasing importance of New Delhi in Israel's diplomatic outreach, even as the United States continues to remain its most significant strategic ally. The exchange between Netanyahu and Vance has drawn attention to the evolving nature of Israel's foreign relations, highlighting that while Washington remains indispensable to Israel's security, the country is also seeking to showcase its expanding network of global partners.