Netanyahu hails PM Modi on 76th birthday, calls India-Israel ties 'unprecedented'
Synopsis
On PM Modi's 76th birthday, Israeli PM Netanyahu declared India a 'world power' and hailed an 'unprecedented partnership' between the two democracies — while Russia's Putin called their BRICS talks 'substantive, frank and productive.' The rare convergence of tributes from leaders across rival geopolitical blocs spotlights India's multi-vector diplomacy in full display.
Key Takeaways
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu wished PM Modi on his 76th birthday on 17 September , calling India a 'world power' and India-Israel ties 'unprecedented.' Russian President Vladimir Putin praised Modi's 'personal contribution' to the India-Russia special and privileged strategic partnership.
Putin described their recent talks at the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi as 'substantive, frank and productive.' Dominica PM Roosevelt Skerrit also extended wishes via X , wishing Modi good health in his service to India.
Several foreign envoys and diplomatic missions in India joined in the greetings, reflecting India's broad global diplomatic engagement.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday, 17 September 2026, extended warm birthday wishes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his 76th birthday, lauding him for transforming India into a world power and describing the bilateral relationship as an 'unprecedented partnership between two great democracies.'
Netanyahu's Message
The Office of the Prime Minister of Israel posted Netanyahu's message on X, with the Israeli leader writing: 'Happy birthday, Narendra! Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Your leadership has transformed India into a world power. Together, we have built an unprecedented partnership between our two great democracies. The friendship between Israel and India has never been stronger, and together we will take it to even greater heights. I wish you many more years of leadership, health and fulfillment.'
The tribute is notable given the backdrop of an active and deepening India-Israel defence and diplomatic engagement, which has strengthened considerably since the two nations established full diplomatic relations in 1992.
Putin Praises Modi's Role in India-Russia Strategic Partnership
Earlier on 17 September, Russian President Vladimir Putin also conveyed birthday greetings to Prime Minister Modi, emphasising the Indian leader's 'personal contribution to strengthening the special and privileged strategic partnership between India and Russia.' The Russian Embassy in India shared Putin's message via Instagram.
In his message, President Putin described their recent bilateral talks — held during his visit to New Delhi for the 18th BRICS Summit — as 'substantive, frank and productive,' and expressed readiness to continue cooperation on bilateral and international issues. Putin also thanked Modi for the 'warm welcome and hospitality' extended during the BRICS summit.
Dominica and Global Envoys Join In
Dominica Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit also extended wishes on X, writing: 'On behalf of the Government and people of the Commonwealth of Dominica, I extend warm birthday wishes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. May the year ahead bring you good health and continued strength in service to the people of India.'
Beyond these heads of state, several foreign envoys and diplomatic missions based in India also conveyed greetings, underscoring the broad diplomatic footprint India has built under Modi's tenure.
What the Tributes Signal
The convergence of birthday messages from leaders across geopolitical alignments — Israel, Russia, and several smaller democracies — reflects India's increasingly multi-vector foreign policy posture. New Delhi has maintained functional partnerships with traditionally rival blocs, a strategic balancing act that has drawn attention from global analysts. Notably, both Netanyahu's reference to a 'world power' and Putin's invocation of 'deep respect on the global stage' come as India prepares for a busy diplomatic calendar in the months ahead.
As greetings continue to pour in from around the world, the breadth of international acknowledgment on Modi's 76th birthday serves as a marker of India's elevated diplomatic standing.
Point of View
But the language Netanyahu and Putin chose is anything but routine. Netanyahu's 'world power' framing and Putin's 'deep respect on the global stage' are deliberate diplomatic signals — both leaders are invested in keeping New Delhi close. What mainstream coverage underplays is that these tributes arrive as India simultaneously deepens ties with Israel (a US ally) and Russia (under Western sanctions) — a balancing act that most nations find untenable. Modi's foreign policy dividend is real, but it also carries the risk of strategic ambiguity hardening into a liability if either relationship is tested by a direct conflict with India's interests.
NationPress
17 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Netanyahu say about PM Modi on his 76th birthday?
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu called PM Modi's leadership transformative, saying it has turned India into a 'world power.' He described India-Israel ties as an 'unprecedented partnership between two great democracies' and wished Modi many more years of leadership, health, and fulfilment.
What message did Putin send to PM Modi on his birthday?
Russian President Vladimir Putin praised PM Modi's personal contribution to the India-Russia 'special and privileged strategic partnership.' He described their recent BRICS Summit talks in New Delhi as 'substantive, frank and productive' and expressed readiness for continued bilateral cooperation.
Which other world leaders wished PM Modi on his 76th birthday?
Dominica Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit posted birthday wishes on X, representing the Government and people of the Commonwealth of Dominica. Several foreign envoys and diplomatic missions in India also extended greetings, highlighting their countries' ties with India.
Where was the 18th BRICS Summit held that Putin referenced?
The 18th BRICS Summit was held in New Delhi, India. Putin referenced the summit when thanking PM Modi for his hospitality and describing their bilateral talks as productive.
Why are birthday greetings from Netanyahu and Putin significant?
Israel and Russia occupy opposite sides of several global geopolitical alignments. Warm tributes from both leaders on the same day underscore India's multi-vector foreign policy, which has allowed New Delhi to maintain strong partnerships across rival blocs — a rare diplomatic achievement.
