Prime Minister Narendra Modi departed for Israel on Wednesday for a two-day state visit aimed at expanding bilateral cooperation across defence, security, science and technology, innovation, agriculture, water management, trade, and people-to-people exchanges. The visit was formally announced by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Tuesday.
This marks the Prime Minister’s second visit to Israel in nine years. During his landmark trip to Tel Aviv in July 2017, India-Israel ties were elevated to the level of a strategic partnership, reflecting the growing convergence of interests between the two nations.
Address to Knesset and High-Level Talks
During the visit, PM Modi is scheduled to address Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, underscoring the democratic bonds shared by both countries. He will also hold delegation-level talks with his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu, and call on President Isaac Herzog.
According to the MEA, the leaders will review the progress achieved under the India-Israel Strategic Partnership and identify new areas of collaboration. Discussions are also expected to cover regional and global developments of mutual interest, including security challenges and geopolitical shifts.
Strengthening Defence and Technology Cooperation
Defence cooperation remains a cornerstone of India-Israel relations. In November last year, both sides signed a memorandum of understanding during the 17th Joint Working Group meeting on defence cooperation in Tel Aviv. The meeting was co-chaired by India’s Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and Major General Amir Baram of Israel’s defence ministry.
The MoU outlined enhanced collaboration in defence manufacturing, research and development, artificial intelligence, and cyber security. While no specific defence deal is expected to be finalised during the current visit, Israel has agreed to share advanced defence technologies with India, further consolidating military ties.
Weapons of Israeli origin were reportedly deployed during Operation Sindoor in May 2025, highlighting the operational dimension of the bilateral defence partnership.
Expanding Strategic and Economic Engagement
Beyond defence, the visit will also focus on expanding cooperation in innovation ecosystems, agricultural technology, water resource management, and start-up collaborations. Several memoranda of understanding are likely to be signed across key sectors, including security cooperation and technology transfer.
The visit comes amid evolving regional dynamics. India recently joined over 100 countries in expressing concern over Israel’s expansion of settlements in the West Bank and reiterated its support for a two-state solution, reflecting its balanced diplomatic stance in West Asia.
Reaffirming Democratic and Strategic Ties
The MEA described the visit as an opportunity to reaffirm the deep-rooted partnership between two vibrant democracies and to align strategic objectives for long-term cooperation. As India continues to strengthen its global partnerships, the Israel visit signals New Delhi’s intent to deepen engagement in defence, innovation, and high-technology collaboration.
Keywords:
