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Netanyahu says US still bedrock of foreign policy despite warming Russian ties
Returning from a visit to Moscow, marking 25 years of diplomatic relations with Russia, Israel’s Prime Minister has insisted that a close relationship with the United States remains the foundation of Israeli foreign policy.
It was Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s third visit to Moscow since September. Russia’s President Vladimir Putin said during a joint press conference that they “place great importance” on the “relationship with Israel.”
Netanyahu pointed to growing cooperation with Russia in the fields of technology, innovation, high-tech, economics, trade, tourism, and culture and in many other areas. During the past year, Russia and Israel have agreed a military mechanism to avoid unintended clashes while protecting their respective interests in Syria.
However, speaking to reporters on the return journey to Israel, Netanyahu said that despite growing relations with Moscow, “There is no alternative to the United States [and] I am not looking for one.” He added: “It is not desirable or practical to replace the United States [with Russia]. The US is the cornerstone of our foreign relations.”
However, Netanyahu also said: “But my policy is to look for other partnerships with great powers such as China, India and Russia and other countries.” He pointed to an upcoming trip to Africa as another example that “Israel is opening up to the world”.
Netanyahu and Putin are thought to have discussed the situation in Syria, where Russia staunchly supports President Assad. Assad is a major ally for terror group Hezbollah, which poses a constant threat to Israel’s northern border. Since the meeting, Netanyahu clarified that he had also addressed Russia’s sale of the advanced S-300 anti-missile defence system to Iran.
He said: “There is not one visit to Moscow in which I don’t bring up the topic to Putin.”
Underscoring the ongoing Russian ties with Syria and Iran, Iran’s Mehr news agency announced that Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and his Syrian counterpart will visit Tehran today for a trilateral meeting on “regional developments” and “the fight against terrorism”.