India-Israel Relations

News- Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to undertake a two-day visit to Israel on February 25-26, 2026, marking his second visit after the historic 2017 trip - the first ever by an Indian Prime Minister. The visit comes amid heightened regional tensions in West Asia, the fragile Gaza ceasefire, and evolving geopolitical alignments involving Iran, the U.S., and Gulf countries.

Why is Modi travelling to Israel? | What will be the main focus of the visit?

Timeline of India-Israel Relations

Areas of Cooperation Between India and Israel

1. Defence and Security

• Arms and Joint Development: Israel is among India's top defence suppliers; both countries jointly developed systems like the Barak-8 missile defence system and are exploring cooperation in drones, anti-missile shields, and laser-based defence.
• Counter-Terrorism and Intelligence: Strong intelligence sharing, surveillance cooperation, and training support to tackle terrorism and border security challenges.

2. Agriculture and Water Cooperation

• Centres of Excellence: Under the Indo-Israel Agricultural Project, over 35 Centres of Excellence promote drip irrigation, protected farming, and high-yield horticulture techniques.
• Water Management Expertise: Cooperation in desalination, wastewater recycling, and micro-irrigation helps water-scarce Indian states improve productivity with limited water resources.

3. Trade and Investment

• Growing Bilateral Trade: Trade stands at around $3.75 billion (FY 2024-25), covering diamonds, chemicals, petroleum products, and expanding into electronics and medical equipment.
• Investment Framework: The 2025 Bilateral Investment Agreement and ongoing FTA negotiations aim to boost investor confidence and deepen economic ties.

4. Innovation and Technology

• Emerging Technologies: Collaboration in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, quantum computing, space, and advanced manufacturing.
• Startup and R&D Cooperation: The India-Israel Industrial R&D and Technological Innovation Fund (I4F) supports joint research and startup partnerships.

5. Multilateral and Regional Cooperation

• I2U2 Grouping: India, Israel, the US, and UAE cooperate on food security, renewable energy, and infrastructure investments.
• IMEC Connectivity Project: The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor aims to enhance trade connectivity and reduce dependence on vulnerable maritime routes like the Suez Canal.

Challenges in India-Israel Bilateral Relations

1. Balancing West Asia: India must carefully manage its close ties with Israel while maintaining strong relations with Gulf countries and Iran, especially for energy and strategic interests like Chabahar Port.

2. Palestinian Question: India's support for a two-state solution must be balanced with its deepening engagement with Israel to avoid diplomatic criticism.

3. Gaza Conflict Impact: The ongoing Gaza crisis affects India's global image and creates pressure in international forums.

4. Defence Dependence: Excessive reliance on Israeli defence imports may limit India's self-reliance goals unless genuine technology transfer is ensured.

5. Regional Instability: Rising Iran-Israel tensions and U.S. military presence in the Gulf pose risks to India's energy security and diaspora safety.

Way Forward

1. Preserve Strategic Autonomy: Continue multi-alignment without joining rigid regional blocs.

2. Maintain Diplomatic Balance: Deepen ties with Israel while reaffirming commitment to the Palestinian cause.

3. Promote Co-Development: Shift from arms imports to joint R&D and indigenous production.

4. Strengthen Economic Integration: Fast-track FTA and boost trade, startups, and innovation partnerships.

5. Use Connectivity Strategically: Leverage IMEC to enhance India's role as a trade and connectivity hub between Asia and Europe.

Conclusion

India-Israel relations have moved from limited engagement to a strong strategic partnership covering defence, agriculture, technology, and regional cooperation.Prime Minister Modi's 2026 visit highlights India's growing role in West Asia. The key challenge is to deepen ties with Israel while maintaining support for Palestine and balanced relations with Arab countries and Iran.

UPSC Syllabus- GS 2- Bilateral Relations
Source- IE | TH