Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, currently visiting New Delhi, has expressed optimism about navigating the ongoing trade frictions involving the United States, India, and Israel, particularly over tariff-related disputes. Speaking to ANI on September 9, 2025, Smotrich underscored that while disagreements in trade relations are natural, they are surmountable through constructive dialogue, diplomacy, and negotiation.

He highlighted that all three partner nations—India, Israel, and the United States—enjoy long-standing political, economic, and strategic ties that form the foundation for resolving current challenges. Smotrich specifically pointed to the strong rapport between Prime Minister Narendra Modi, U.S. President Donald Trump, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, describing it as a key stabilising factor in steering trilateral cooperation despite emerging frictions.

The remarks come against the backdrop of Washington’s recent decision to impose a sweeping 50 per cent tariff on Indian imports, followed by a supplementary 25 per cent penalty linked to India’s continued procurement of Russian crude oil.

These measures, which India has opposed, have injected strain into trade relations at a time when global economic uncertainties already weigh on supply chains, energy flows, and industrial competitiveness. According to Smotrich, however, both India and Israel are actively engaged in ongoing discussions with the U.S. administration to address the tariff regime, with an expectation that the outcome will eventually be mutually beneficial. He asserted that these negotiations are part of the natural ebb and flow of international trade relations rather than a rupture.

Smotrich’s intervention reflects an unusual dimension: Israel publicly aligning itself with India’s stance on trade and energy choices at a sensitive geopolitical moment. He made it clear that Israel has no objection to India’s continued imports of Russian oil, effectively acknowledging the pragmatic economic compulsions facing New Delhi amidst the continued war in Ukraine and the persistence of Western sanctions on Moscow.

By taking this position, Israel not only distances itself from overt criticism but also underscores its recognition of India’s energy security requirements as legitimate and non-contentious. This statement is significant given the overlapping but distinct alignments between Israel, the U.S., and Western sanctions regimes targeting Russia.

In broader context, Smotrich portrayed Israel’s role as one of partnership and solidarity, emphasising commonalities shared between Israel and India—common values, friends, enemies, and economic interests. These overlapping strategic identities, he suggested, position both countries to withstand external economic pressure while continuing to deepen ties with Washington.

He framed the trilateral dynamic as resilient, arguing that goodwill among leaders and shared priorities such as security cooperation, counterterrorism, technological exchange, and trade expansion will withstand the shock of tariff disputes. Importantly, the Finance Minister suggested that ongoing behind-the-scenes efforts are already underway to reconcile positions and forge a workable agreement.

These statements signal Israel’s active engagement in preserving and strengthening the Indo-Israel partnership, while simultaneously ensuring that American concerns are accommodated through negotiation rather than confrontation. By lending support to India at a moment when its trade position vis-à-vis Washington faces pressures, Smotrich’s remarks serve as reassurance that Israel views India not only as a partner but also as an indispensable ally in navigating the complexities of global trade politics.

His confidence that “however long it takes, we’ll reach an agreement” encapsulates the view that tariff disputes are temporary irritants rather than structural rifts. The broader implication of his Delhi visit is that the three-nation matrix of India, Israel, and the U.S. will continue pursuing cooperative solutions in both economics and geopolitics despite the turbulence created by sanctions and tariff impositions.

Based On ANI Report