‘US, Israel not always on same page’: Vance hints divergence with Netanyahu; reaffirms America-first approach

WASHINGTON: Amid a rapidly evolving situation in West Asia, US Vice President JD Vance said that America and Israel are not always in sync as President Trump’s relationship with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has been tested over the Iran war, CBS reported.

Vance made the remarks in an exclusive interview with CBS, which will air later this week on June 14. He told CBS that while Israel has been a very close partner of the United States, but even then, there may be times when the two countries have their interests misaligned — and that the US would do what it best for its interest.

“Prime Minister Netanyahu, look, he governs a country that has obviously been a very close partner of the United States. But, even when we’ve been close partners, sometimes we have interests that are perfectly aligned, and sometimes we have interests that are misaligned”, Vance told Robert Costa in an interview airing this week on “CBS Sunday Morning.”

VP JD Vance says PM Netanyahu has “certainly gotten some things wrong,” yet admits he’s been a “good partner” and that Israel has been “a great partner in a lot of ways.”

Vance’s remarks highlight a growing tendency of downplaying the reality that Netanyahu is defending his… pic.twitter.com/SNwtSDhOYu

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He said that while Netanyahu is a leader who “aggressively asserts the interests of his country” but said Trump “has been very clear about what is in our best interest.”

“Sometimes that means we’re on the same page and sometimes it means that we’re not,” Vance said, adding that “where that diverges, we, unfortunately for the Israelis, have to choose the side of the American people, which we always do.”

When asked if Netanyahu has made any mistakes in approaching the relationship with the US, Vance said, “he’s certainly gotten some things wrong”; he, however, declined to give examples, saying those conversations “are better left in private.”

“But what I would say is that he’s been a good partner,” Vance added. “We’re gonna keep on working together. But where interests diverge, the United States is gonna pursue the best interests of our nation, and that’s how it’s gonna be.”

This comes after US President Donald Trump, in recent weeks, has expressed a dissonance in his conversations with the Israeli PM regarding the conflict in West Asia and Israel’s response and subsequent attacks. (ANI)