Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a new “hexagon” alliance vision connecting India, Arab and African nations, Greece and Cyprus, emphasizing AI, security cooperation and regional resilience
JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday unveiled an expansive diplomatic vision for a new “hexagon” of alliances spanning India, Arab and African nations, Mediterranean partners and select Asian states — a strategy he said would anchor Israel in a widening bloc aligned against what he called “radical axes.”
Speaking at the start of the weekly Cabinet meeting, Netanyahu described the initiative as a structural realignment designed to integrate economic, diplomatic and security cooperation across regions tied to the Middle East.
“In the vision I see before me, we will create an entire system, essentially a ‘hexagon’ of alliances around or within the Middle East,” Netanyahu said. “This includes India, Arab nations, African nations, Mediterranean nations — Greece and Cyprus — and nations in Asia that I won’t detail at the moment.”
The remarks come ahead of a state visit this week by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, underscoring what Netanyahu characterized as a deepening strategic partnership between Jerusalem and New Delhi.
A Strategic Axis Beyond the United States
Netanyahu emphasized Israel’s longstanding alliance with Washington, highlighting what he described as a “historic alliance” with the United States and his personal relationship with President Donald Trump.
“We have a unique and, in my opinion, historic alliance with the United States, both nation-to-nation and through my personal relationship with President Trump,” Netanyahu said. “This alliance does not mean that we are not seeking additional alliances; on the contrary, we are cultivating them constantly.”
He framed the proposed hexagon not as a replacement for U.S. ties but as a complementary network of states that “see eye-to-eye on the reality, challenges, and goals.”
“The intention here is to create an axis of nations that see eye-to-eye against the radical axes,” Netanyahu said, referencing both “the radical Shia axis, which we have struck very hard,” and what he described as an “emerging radical Sunni axis.”
While he did not name specific countries beyond India, Greece and Cyprus, Netanyahu suggested that African and Arab partners would also form part of the broader framework.
Deepening Israel–India Ties
Modi’s visit will include an address to the Knesset, as well as joint appearances in Jerusalem and participation in an innovation-focused event. Netanyahu said the leaders would also visit Yad Vashem together.
“We are personal friends; we speak frequently on the phone and visit one another,” Netanyahu said, recounting past visits and symbolic moments shared with the Indian leader. “The fabric of this relationship has grown tighter, and he is coming here so we can tighten it further.”
The prime minister highlighted plans to expand cooperation in high-tech sectors, including artificial intelligence and quantum computing.
“I say AI and quantum not because they are the future, but because they are the present,” Netanyahu said. “We want to be among the world’s leading nations in these fields.”
Israel and India have steadily expanded defense, cybersecurity and innovation partnerships in recent years, and officials in both capitals have framed the relationship as a pillar of Indo-Mediterranean connectivity.
Domestic Development Agenda
Alongside the diplomatic initiative, Netanyahu outlined domestic infrastructure projects aimed at accelerating development in southern Israel.
He confirmed that the government recently approved advancing plans for an alternate airport in Ziklag and further development of Ramat David airfield, calling the move “a model for cutting bureaucracy and streamlining processes.”
“We are going to make history,” Netanyahu said. “We are going to establish an additional airfield, while simultaneously developing Ramat David.”
He added that the government is also planning a new community in the Negev and another near Kiryat Gat designated for the Haredi population, citing demographic growth and housing needs.
“This is part of the ongoing and immense development momentum in the Negev,” he said.
A Broader Geopolitical Vision
Netanyahu’s “hexagon” concept reflects Israel’s effort to anchor itself in a network of states spanning the Mediterranean, the Gulf, Africa and South Asia — an arc increasingly shaped by trade corridors, digital infrastructure and security cooperation.
Though details remain limited, the framework signals Israel’s intent to build multi-regional coalitions that extend beyond traditional bilateral alliances.
“In geopolitics, resilience comes from partnerships,” Netanyahu said. “Our cooperation can yield great results and ensure our future.”
Whether the hexagon evolves into a formalized bloc or remains a diplomatic narrative will depend on the willingness of regional actors to align strategically in an increasingly polarized global landscape.
