In a major foreign policy speech delivered in London last week, US Republican presidential frontrunner Rudy Giuliani said the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) should be expanded to include Israel.

Speaking to a gathering of conservative British politicians, including former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, Giuliani seemed to suggest that NATO be transformed into an alliance of Western-style democracies to rival the United Nations, reported Newsday. He also called for the inclusion of Australia, India and Japan.

A Giuliani aide later told the newspaper that bringing Israel into NATO would also serve as a warning to both Iran and Syria to stop threatening the Jewish state, even via their Hizballah proxy in Lebanon.

Regarding Iran's nuclear program, Giuliani warned that if it becomes clear that Iran is nearing the successful development of a nuclear weapon, “we will prevent it, or we will set them back five or 10 years.”

“It isn't a threat, it's just a reality. And I think if that reality sinks in, there is a better chance that we will never have to use a military option to deal with them,” added the former New York City mayor.