Foreign Policy Portal

Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan presents Israel with a major strategic relations opportunity. Look to the JNI paper about specific policy recommendations for Israel with regard to Azerbaijan, as well as China, India, Georgia, and Turkey. The MEF piece discusses the importance of continuing strong Jerusalem-Baku relations, especially in light of Russian and Iranian belligerence.

>> Bolstering Israeli Security With Wise Energy Policy - JNI article
>> Israel & Azerbaijan's Furtive Embrace
>> A model for Other Muslim States

India

Israel's relationship with India is based on shared democratic principles, economic value and a similar Islamist threat. Israel should be actively moving toward a free trade agreement with India and joint military industrial initiatives.

>> Israel - India Partnership
>> Israel, India & Turkey
>> India - Israel Analysis
>> India Deepens Ties With Israel

China

China represents a challenge to Israeli foreign policy. Their dismal record on human rights and democratic governance makes any long-term investment in China risky. JNI regards the Chinese economy as a powerful incentive for investment and trade. Though technology transfers should be carefully monitored, as China has a long record of stealing and duplicating technology. China has no historical residue of anti-semitism, allowing for greater diplomatic mobility and because it is a regional hegemon it cannot be ignored in Israel's geo-political position, but rather carefully engaged.

>> Return of the Red Card
>> The Triangle

Kurdish

The Kurds represent the hypocricy found in the international community's obsession with the Palestinian national cause. The Kurds represent a wholly distinctive culture with ancient roots in the region, similar to the Jewish people. Israel stands to gain much from a Kurdish alliance through diplomatic posturing and breaking the seige of resistance most nations in the ME direct towards Israel.

>> No Friends But the Mountains

Turkey

With the rise of the Islamist AKP party in Turkey grave questions face the Israel-Turkish alliance. The Turkish leadership (Erdogan) subsequent behavior regarding Israel viz-a-vis Operation Cast Lead, coupled with Turkey's renewal of Syrian, Iranian relations, blunts the strategic partnership between Israel-Turkey that has developed since the 90’s. JNI sees Turkey at a crossroads in its post-Ataturk era. Israel must be very very watchful of Turkey's internal political arena and plan for any contingency. If this cooling trend continues, Israel must invest and upgrade its Naval capacities to counter a very possible break in relations.

>> The Flotilla & the New Foreign Policy - JNI Article
>> The Gaza Aftermath
>> Turkish Mediation Reconsidered - JNI Article
>> How Turkey was Lost
>> A NATO Without Turkey?

South Korea

South Korea is a natural and important ally of Israel. Historically linked by the nature of their independence, both countries are reliably democratic and operate a successful free-market economy. Also, both nations have limited territory and real existential threats on their borders. Israel should bolster its relationship with S. Korea with a multi-faceted agenda. JNI observes that S. Korea's mature shipbuilding industry should be the lead initiative to foster stronger defense partnership between the two countries. On the diplomatic level, S. Korea should be Israel's primary ally on mainland Asia and provide Israel further influence with other nations in the region, most notably China.

America

The US represents Israel's greatest diplomatic relationship and most stalwart ally. While this special relationship will endure, as Israel develops it will gradually need to lessen its dependence on American aid even as joint America-Israeli military, scientific, and commercial projects evolve on a larger scale. Israel must also balance its new relationships with democracies like India and South Korea against the weight of Washington's influence. It will need to develop and deploy a firm strategy for engaging with presidential administrations which hope to make sudden, large-scale changes to Israel's security configurations and to the region on a whole.

Morocco

Morocco is a liberalizing nation that provides Israel the greatest potential for a moderate Arab/Muslim partnership now that Turkey has turned to the East. For more on this check out the JNI article below "Turkey Replaced." Morocco is democratizing and industrializing at the same time, and JNI believes that with a strong Israeli partnership the geo-political position of both countries may be greatly enhanced.