A changing regional and international context is providing the impetus for Tel Aviv to develop partnerships beyond the U.S.-Israeli special relationship. This thesis analyzes how three other potential partners of Israel—Turkey, India, and China—evaluate the strategic dimensions of their relations with the Jewish state. All three of these emerging powers established relations with Israel at the end of the Cold War, have growing interests in the region, and must attempt to balance competing factors that complicate relations with the Jewish State. An analysis of the way these nations’ policies toward Israel have evolved since the end of the Cold War sheds a useful light on their interests in the region and the future roles they envision themselves playing. Closer cooperation with Israel offers significant tangible benefits for each of these states, but regional and domestic dynamics temper their relationships in ways that are unique to each power. This thesis concludes that trade and security cooperation will continue to compel closer relations with Israel, but, barring any changes in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, these ties will not necessarily translate to political support.

Subjects: Israel; Turkey; China; India; Middle East; Middle Eastern foreign policy; Turkish-Israeli; Sino-Israeli; Indo-Israeli; Turkish foreign policy; Chinese foreign policy; Indian foreign policy; Israeli technology; bilateral relations