Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel is seeking to translate what he described as “immense” support for the country in India into deeper economic, security and other ties, highlighting his latest conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
In a video shared by Clash Report on X, Netanyahu referred to Modi as his “friend” and described India as a “small” country of 1.4 billion people, a pointed formulation that appears to underscore the scale and influence of the world's most populous nation.
“This week, I had another very friendly conversation with my friend Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India, a ‘small' country of 1.4 billion people,” Netanyahu said.
Netanyahu on India:
— Clash Report (@clashreport) August 14, 2026
This week, I had another very friendly conversation with my friend Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India—a “small” country of 1.4 billion people.
Support for Israel there is immense. We are translating it into security and economic relations. pic.twitter.com/tGw5kQTPBO
“Support for Israel there is immense. We are translating it into security and economic relations,” he added.
Netanyahu's remarks came while discussing what he described as a series of diplomatic developments for Israel, including the sixth anniversary of the Abraham Accords and renewed diplomatic engagement with Venezuela. He also referred to Colombia's recognition of the Golan Heights as being under Israeli sovereignty and its reported decision to move its embassy to Jerusalem.
Netanyahu had previously highlighted the strength of Israel's relationship with India, describing New Delhi as a huge power and saying the two countries share a unique relationship. He also claimed that Israel enjoys absolutely crazy support among Indians despite what he described as global efforts to delegitimise Israel.
The latest comments follow a recent conversation between Modi and Netanyahu on progress in the India-Israel Special Strategic Partnership. According to an official statement the two leaders reviewed sustained progress in bilateral cooperation and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening ties across various sectors.
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They also exchanged views on developments in West Asia and agreed to remain in touch.
The official statement said that the two countries signed 17 agreements and documents in February 2026 covering areas including artificial intelligence, trade, investment, education, manufacturing, culture, maritime heritage and agriculture. They also agreed to fast-track a trade deal and expand cooperation in defence, including joint development and production of military hardware.
Netanyahu has previously called Modi one of our greatest friends, as Israel seeks to deepen ties with major countries amid a shifting geopolitical landscape.
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