Indian Gen Z ranks Israel above US and France in defence and diplomatic ties

A nationwide survey of Indian youth aged 18 to 29, carried out by the India Israel Centre, shows a clear recalibration of generational awareness regarding strategic alliances. More than half of respondents (52%) consider the defence relationship with Israel robust, ranking it third behind Russia, while France receives 51% and the United States 46%. On the diplomatic front, 41% place Israel among India’s top partners, edging out the United States at 39%.

The centre attributes this change to recent cultural narratives, podcasts and pop-culture references that highlight Israel’s provision of emergency laser-guided munitions and surveillance assistance to Indian forces during recent conflicts. Defence and technological innovation now dominate young Indians’ assessments, with Israel’s defence rating climbing five percentage points from the previous year. The 22-25 age segment showed the strongest appetite for deeper bilateral ties, noting a fourfold rise in calls for substantially stronger future cooperation.