Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations in Jerusalem on Feb. 15, 2026. (Credit: Ronen Zvulun/Reuters)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday he intended to create a network of alliances in the Middle East, in opposition to “the Iranian Shiite axis, which we have struck hard, and the emerging radical Sunni axis,” Israeli media report.
Israel “will create an entire system — a kind of hexagon of alliances — around or within the Middle East,” he said, citing India, Greece, Cyprus, as well as unnamed Arab, African, and Asian countries, according to the Times of Israel.
The prime minister made these remarks while announcing, at the opening of the weekly cabinet meeting, the official visit to Israel on Wednesday of his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi, according to AFP. Netanyahu welcomed the “strengthening” of ties between Israel and India and outlined his “vision” for a strategic partnership focused on “economic, ... diplomatic, and security cooperation.”
'Creating an axis in opposition to the radical axes'
“The goal is to create an axis of countries that perceive reality, challenges, and objectives in the same way, in opposition to the radical axes: both the radical Shiite axis, which we have struck very hard, and the emerging axis — the radical Sunni axis,” Netanyahu explained.
The Iranian axis in the Middle East has been significantly weakened over the past two years, particularly following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s Syrian regime in December 2024, replaced by a Sunni Islamist coalition led by Syria’s new strongman, Ahmad al-Sharaa, who, although supported by Washington, is viewed with suspicion by Israel.
As part of its regional influence strategy, which includes building ties with minority communities, the Israeli army has established a liaison post under its Northern Command, responsible for coordinating relations with Druze communities in Lebanon and Syria, where Israel’s involvement has intensified.
“We have a unique and, in my view, historic alliance with the United States ... This alliance does not mean we are not seeking to form other alliances; on the contrary, we cultivate them constantly,” Netanyahu added.
On Feb. 15, the Israeli prime minister reiterated his plan for Israel to develop an “independent arms industry” within 10 years, which would allow the country to phase out the $3.8 billion in annual U.S. economic aid currently dedicated exclusively to strengthening its military.
In the U.S., under the Trump administration, the delivery of American weapons is under increased scrutiny. Whether with Democrats or Republicans, the nearly fifty-year-old agreement for massive, free arms shipments risks being reduced — or not renewed in the future.
Five months earlier, speaking to investors and economic officials, Netanyahu announced that Israel is entering a process that will turn it into “a Super-Sparta.”
Regarding Modi’s visit, Netanyahu said the Indian prime minister will “deliver a speech in the Knesset,” Israel’s parliament. Modi has previously visited Israel once as prime minister, in 2017, and Netanyahu visited India the following year.
India is Israel’s second-largest trading partner in Asia and the seventh worldwide, according to the Indian Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
