The president of Israel’s attendance at the inauguration ceremony of Costa Rica’s new president was more than a diplomatic courtesy.
It reflected a deeper geopolitical reality that has become increasingly visible since October 7: the world is reorganizing itself around a new political and civilizational divide.
After October 7, the line separating the camps became unmistakably clear.
On one side stood the alliance of the Western left and Islamist movements, openly aligning themselves with Hamas. On the other side stood patriots, conservatives, and millions of ordinary people in the West who suddenly witnessed massive pro-Hamas demonstrations across European capitals, often organized through a coalition of Islamist groups and the political left.
For many Europeans, the question became unavoidable: are you on the side of Israel and the Judeo-Christian civilization that shaped the West, or on the side of an alliance between radical Islamism and the Left?
For growing numbers of people, the answer was Israel.
Israel's growing number of allies
Since October 7, Israel has lost much of the support of Western left-wing circles that had already become politically dependent on Islamist voting blocs and activism. The truth is that many elements of the European left were never genuinely pro-Israel.
Yet at the same time, Israel found serious new allies among nationalist and conservative leaders, particularly across Europe. One symbol of this shift was the invitation extended by Israel’s Diaspora Affairs Ministry to prominent European right-wing figures, signaling the emergence of a new strategic alignment.
The same transformation is visible in Latin America. As leftist governments sympathetic to the Islamic Republic of Iran and performative pro-Palestinian politics lose influence, new leaders openly supportive of Israel are emerging.
Argentina’s Javier Milei is the clearest example. The Israeli president’s presence in Costa Rica today reflects this broader regional shift toward closer ties with Israel.
Israel’s remarkable resilience in its confrontation with the “Axis of Evil” from Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria to Yemen and the heart of the Islamic Republic itself has fundamentally altered global perceptions of Israeli power.
More than two and a half years of sustained conflict have demonstrated not only the endurance of Israel’s military and society, but also the strength of its economy and institutions. Even amid major wars, Israel maintained one of the strongest growth performances, comparable to leading European economies and Britain.
The conclusion many countries are drawing is clear: Israel has become an indispensable military, technological, and economic power. It is now uniquely positioned as a provider of battlefield-tested military technology, a phrase that increasingly defines its global strategic value.
PRIME MINISTER Narendra Modi’s historic February 2026 address before the Knesset, in which he declared that “India stands with Israel, firmly, with full conviction, in this moment and beyond,” symbolized a major geopolitical transformation.
The world’s largest democracy, led by a confident and patriotic government with a rapidly growing economy, has chosen strategic alignment with Israel. In that context, the influence of countries such as Spain appears increasingly marginal and insignificant by comparison.
Israel’s influence is expanding across Central Asia as well. Kazakhstan and other regional actors are deepening engagement with Israel, while Jerusalem has become far more active diplomatically and strategically in the region.
All of this points to one overarching reality: Israel is the ally you want in hard times.
The recent deployment of Israeli air defense systems and military personnel to support the UAE, even while Israel itself remains at war, sent a message heard far beyond the region.
First, it demonstrated to the Emirates that neither China nor Russia could provide meaningful protection in moments of real danger. For years, the UAE had moved closer to both powers, while also becoming a financial haven for figures tied to the Islamic Republic.
Yet when the crisis came, it was the Abraham Accords and partnership with Israel that proved decisive.
Second, it sent a message to other Arab states, such as Morocco, Jordan, and beyond, that Israel is a reliable partner in moments of existential pressure.
Third, it signaled to countries from India to Central Asia to Latin America that Israel offers not only advanced technology, but technology proven under real battlefield conditions. More importantly, Israel has shown a willingness to stand beside its allies when others hesitate.
Finally, Iran’s attack on the UAE achieved the opposite of what Tehran intended. Rather than weakening Israel’s standing, it reinforced Israel’s position as the ultimate strategic backstop for its partners.
Israel demonstrated that it possesses not only superior military capability but also the resolve, loyalty, and courage to stand by its allies in hard times, qualities increasingly absent in Moscow and Beijing.
That is Israel’s emerging role in the new world order: not merely a regional power, but a trusted ally when it matters most.
The writer is editor-in-chief of ManotoTV.