Indian PM Modi lands in Israel to ‘strengthen cooperation’
TAL AVIV: India’s Prime Minister NarendraModi arrived in Israel on Wednesday for a two-day visit aimed at deepening ties with a key trade and defence partner, a trip that has drawn criticism at home.
It is Modi’s second visit to Israel as prime minister.
He was greeted by his counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu.
Modi is scheduled to meet Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog later for talks.
“Our nations share a robust and multifaceted strategic partnership,” Modi said in a statement before leaving New Delhi, adding that he will address the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, later on Thursday.
“Ties have significantly strengthened in the last few years.”
New Delhi has steadily expanded cooperation with Israel across the defence, agriculture, technology and cybersecurity sectors, while balancing diplomatic interests in the Middle East.
Talks opened in New Delhi on Monday for an India-Israel Free Trade Agreement (FTA), India’s government said in a statement, noting that merchandise trade reached $3.62 billion in 2024-2025.
Modi said he would hold talks with Netanyahu to “discuss ways to strengthen cooperation”.
The Israeli foreign ministry official said discussions with a “regional aspect” would likely take place during the visit.
Speaking at a cabinet meeting this week, Netanyahu described India as being part of a future “axis” of like-minded nations that see eye-to-eye in confronting “the radical Shia axis” and “the emerging radical Sunni axis”. “[Our] cooperation can yield great results and, of course, ensure our resilience and our future,” Netanyahu said.
KabirTaneja, of the Observer Research Foundation, an Indian think-tank said that, while India was interested in buying Israeli military equipment, New Delhi would hesitate to join any formal alliance given its history of non-alignment in international affairs.
Full diplomatic relations between the two countries were established in 1992. Ties deepened after Hindu-nationalist leader Modi took office in 2014.
Modi first visited Israel as prime minister in 2017, before Netanyahu made a reciprocal visit to India the following year.
Both right-wing leaders have called each other a “friend”.
In September 2023, grand plans were unveiled in New Delhi for an India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor — to link railways, ports, electricity, data networks and pipelines, including through Saudi Arabia and Israel. Those plans were stalled by Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel, which responded with a devastating war in the Gaza Strip.Web Desk
