The road between New Delhi, Jerusalem runs through Tehran

2026-02-24 - 09:17

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Israel is no routine diplomatic event. It is a moment that can – and must – serve as the opening shot for crafting a genuinely updated strategic doctrine. The visit is taking place at a time when the space between the Mediterranean and the Indian subcontinent is undergoing a profound reorganization around regional blocs. These are no longer disconnected arenas – they constitute a continuous expanse in which centers of power are actively seeking alignment and influence. Before our eyes, a distinct Sunni Islamist axis is taking shape – one that should be called by its true name: the Muslim Brotherhood bloc. This bloc presents Israel with a layered challenge. It is working to establish a new regional order with the paradoxical backing of both the US and Europe – an order that runs directly counter to Israeli interests and, given the enduring tensions between India and Pakistan, one that just as plainly cuts against Indian interests in the region. Turkey provides the bloc with political and military leadership; Qatar serves as its financial engine; and Pakistan offers diplomatic cover backed by a nuclear umbrella. Joining them is Saudi Arabia – driven by regional competition and the need for a repositioning – and Egypt, which is still wavering but is deeply dependent on capital and investment. A country like Egypt, with its fragile economy, will struggle to remain outside an axis that offers economic backing and a political horizon over the long term. This bloc has already notched impressive gains in just a few months. Syria has fallen to an Islamist-Turkish axis; the Gaza Strip is under complete Hamas-Turkish control; and Judea and Samaria in