Although US President Donald Trump’s term will continue until at least 2029, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is already preparing for the possibility of a future American administration that could take a more hostile approach towards Israel. On Sunday, Netanyahu warned that a future US president might turn against Jerusalem, potentially reducing military assistance and supporting international sanctions or an arms embargo. He said Israel should strengthen partnerships with India and Latin American countries to offset such risks.
According to Israeli media outlets The Jerusalem Post and YnetNews, Netanyahu made these remarks on October 18 while presenting his security doctrine, nine days before Israel’s October 27 election.
Netanyahu reportedly warned that Washington could eventually be led by an administration that was “very hostile to Israel”. He urged Israel to use the remaining years of Trump’s presidency to advance its strategic interests and establish stronger relationships with countries such as India and nations in Latin America.
“In two years, a president, man or woman, could come to power who is very hostile to Israel,” Netanyahu said, questioning how Israel would manage its relationship with Washington under such circumstances.
His comments come as Israel remains engaged in conflicts on several fronts, including with Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon and Iran. Tensions across the Middle East remain high, while Israel faces international criticism over its military operations. Netanyahu appears intent on expanding Israel’s partnerships to reduce its vulnerability to a potential shift in US policy.
The remarks also follow calls by several Democratic lawmakers in the United States for investigations into alleged Israeli violations, including the use of American-supplied weapons in Gaza. Other lawmakers have demanded inquiries into violence by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.
Netanyahu’s comments came days after Trump endorsed him ahead of the Israeli election. Trump had previously said he did not trust either Netanyahu or his principal rival, Gadi Eisenkot.
The Israeli prime minister had also proposed a broader “hexagon” alliance in February, envisaging cooperation involving India, Greece, Cyprus and other countries.
INDIA AND LATIN AMERICA FEATURE IN NETANYAHU’S PLANS
According to YnetNews, Netanyahu said Israel needed to maintain and strengthen its relationship with the United States while preparing for the possibility of a change in leadership in Washington.
“First, we must do everything we can during these two years, and during the following two years, in the American arena, through good times and bad,” he said.
He added that Israel also needed to establish partnerships beyond the United States. “The second thing is to create other alliances. That is what I am working on now with many countries in our region and outside it. India is not a small country, and there are many others,” he said.
The Jerusalem Post reported that Netanyahu was already working with countries inside and outside the Middle East to develop such relationships.
“There is a major shift in Latin America, and there could be an enormous change in Brazil in just a few days,” he said, arguing that Israel should expand its partnerships and develop capabilities that would make it valuable to other countries.
Brazil’s incumbent president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, is seeking a fourth, non-consecutive term in the October 25 presidential run-off against right-wing Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, the eldest son of jailed former president Jair Bolsonaro. In the first round on October 4, Flavio finished ahead of Lula, setting up a closely contested second round.
Netanyahu has previously emphasised the importance of developing additional partnerships, particularly with India. In August, he said Israel was investing heavily in its relationship with India.
In July, he told Israeli journalist Sharon Gal that Israel needed to build new partnerships and develop fresh relationships, adding that he was working towards that goal with India.
In February, Netanyahu outlined his proposed “hexagon” alliance during a cabinet meeting. He envisioned a network of partnerships involving India, Arab countries, African nations, Mediterranean states such as Greece and Cyprus, and other Asian countries.
“In the vision I see before me, we will create an entire system, essentially a ‘hexagon’ of alliances around or within the Middle East,” he said, adding that he would present the proposal in greater detail later.
The proposal was announced shortly before Israel and the United States launched attacks on Iran and the wider Middle East war began.
ISRAEL PREPARES FOR A POSSIBLE CHANGE IN WASHINGTON
Netanyahu stressed that Israel had a limited period to pursue its strategic objectives while Trump remained in the White House. In a social media post on Sunday, he described the next two years as an opportunity to achieve important goals on several fronts.
This came after Trump publicly endorsed Netanyahu ahead of the Israeli election, despite previously expressing distrust of both the incumbent prime minister and his main challenger, Gadi Eisenkot.
According to YnetNews, Netanyahu’s concerns extend beyond the possibility of reduced American military assistance. He also warned that a future administration could support sanctions or an international arms embargo against Israel.
Netanyahu also spoke about Israel’s strained relations with some European governments. He accused certain countries of publicly criticising Israel while continuing to seek cooperation with it.
“Countries that condemn us, and have some nerve, by the way, condemn us and then come to us,” he said. He added that Israel’s willingness to cooperate would depend on how those countries behaved towards it.
NETANYAHU TARGETS IRAN’S LEADERSHIP AND SAYS ISRAEL CAN ACT ALONE
During his presentation of Israel’s security doctrine, Netanyahu also focused on Iran. He said Israel remained determined to bring down the country’s ruling regime and claimed that Israel had achieved approximately 90 per cent of its objectives against Tehran.
However, he warned that Iran would attempt to rebuild its nuclear programme, weapons capabilities and network of regional allies.
“Our plan is very comprehensive and very determined, to bring about the downfall of the [Iranian] regime,” YnetNews quoted him as saying.
The prime minister also said Israel was prepared to act independently against Iran if necessary, according to The Jerusalem Post.
Netanyahu proposed allocating an additional 450 billion shekels towards defence over the next decade to strengthen Israel’s military capabilities. He said the Israel Defence Forces needed to expand, while artificial intelligence could help reduce certain manpower requirements.
Gadi Eisenkot, Netanyahu’s main challenger in the October 27 election, criticised the security doctrine, describing it as a political exercise rather than a serious national security strategy.
The former Israeli military chief, who leads the opposition Yashar! Party, is attempting to unseat Netanyahu after what he describes as years of war and political instability.
“ Nine days before the election and three years after the gravest failure and disaster in Israel’s history, with every war front still open, Netanyahu decided to present his ‘security doctrine’ to the public,” Eisenkot said, according to YnetNews.
Polling reported by the Tel-Aviv-based newspaper The Times of Israel placed Eisenkot’s party ahead of Netanyahu’s Likud Party. However, both political blocs were projected to fall short of the 61 seats required for a parliamentary majority.
The United States remains Israel’s most important ally. Nevertheless, while Netanyahu continues to emphasise his relationship with Trump, his government appears to be preparing for the possibility that a future American administration could adopt a less supportive approach. Strengthening ties with India and Latin American countries is part of Israel’s effort to diversify its partnerships and reduce its dependence on Washington. Whether this strategy will provide an effective counterweight remains uncertain.
