By P.K.Balachandran
Colombo, February 27 – India-Israel relations soared to new heights during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Israel on February 25 and 26. Modi and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu pointedly addressed the core issues confronting them and expressed unreserved support for each other.
Modi badly needed Israeli expertise in cutting-edge technology, including those that would enable him to face security threats from Pakistan and China. And Netanyahu desperately needed endorsement and unstinted support for his unpopular anti-Islamic, Gaza and Middle East policies. Both Modi and Netanyahu expressed full support for each other.
Indo-Israeli relations had grown steadily, especially in the defence sector, since India broke loose from the Arab cause and established diplomatic relations with Israel in 1992. However, Modi’s visit in February 2026 took them to new heights in a situation when it was tough going for both leaders.
At home, Modi was antagonising the Muslims, blaming Pakistan for cross-border terrorism and had fought a war with Pakistan, with China supporting Pakistan. He was also facing mounting opposition from the Congress and its allies for multiple omissions. He feared China’s cyber power and its technological capabilities.
As for Netanyahu, he was under siege at home for his corruption and his prolonged war in Gaza, with no satisfactory solution for the Hamas and hostage question. His only firm ally, the US, was trying to pin him down to accept the multi-national Board of Peace that was not committed to annihilating Hamas and securing for Israel domination all the land between the Nile and the Euphrates river. On top of the pile of problems was his being asked to stand trial at the International Criminal Court for war crimes. In these troubled circumstances, Netanyahu needed international support, especially where he was weakest – in Asia. And Modi, the leader of India, offered exactly that.
Elevation to Strategic Partnership
A joint statement issued at the conclusion of Modi’s visit stressed the establishment of an India-Israel “Strategic Partnership” encompassing both security and technological cooperation.
There is now a new initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies led by the National Security Advisors of the two countries, which will synergise the individual strengths of both countries in niche technologies, fostering a focused and futuristic partnership.
It was agreed that India-Israel Industrial R&D and Innovation Fund (I4F) should be enhanced to facilitate high-quality joint R&D partnerships. Acknowledging the success of the India-Israel Joint Research Calls (IIJRC), the Prime Ministers agreed to increase the contribution of both sides, from the current USD 1 million to USD 1.5 million each.
Artificial Intelligence
Recognising the strategic importance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a key driver of innovation, Modi and Netanyahu welcomed efforts to develop enabling frameworks that strengthen linkages between AI professionals, research institutions and innovative enterprises. A MoU on Cooperation in Artificial Intelligence (AI) was signed.
Space Technology
The Prime Ministers welcomed the ongoing collaboration between the Israel Space Agency (ISA) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). They emphasised the importance of fostering joint ventures, innovation partnerships, and knowledge exchange in the space sector.
“Horizon Scanning Mechanism”
Israel and India are to establish a ‘Horizon Scanning/Strategic Foresight Mechanism’ to identify emerging global trends in technology, economy and society, by leveraging data, AI and expert insights to support strategic planning and decision making.
Cybersecurity
The Prime Ministers reaffirmed the need for robust dialogue between their national cyber authorities and pledged to deepen cooperation in this field. They pledged commitment to developing a multi-year strategic program to guide bilateral collaboration in cybersecurity and advance a joint roadmap for implementation.
The roadmap will include the integration of Security by Design principles and regular joint tabletop exercises. The inaugural India-Israel Cyber Policy Dialogue was held in March 2025.
In a significant step forward, both leaders welcomed the signing of the Letter of Intent for the establishment of an India-Israel Centre of Excellence in C Indo-Israeli trade-off: Modi gets security expertise and Netanyahu, the sorely needed political supportybersecurity in India.
The two leaders welcomed the strategic partnership in the financial-cyber domain. This collaboration focuses on the exchange of financial- cyber intelligence, joint development of methodologies, and the performance of multilateral financial-cyber simulations operationalised through the Financial Computer Security Incident Response Teams of the two countries.
Indian Participation in Development Projects in Israel
The two leaders pledged to foster Indian participation in the infrastructure sector of Israel, particularly in major upcoming projects in Israel in sectors such a metro, rail, road, airports, desalination plants and waste-water treatment plant construction.
Both leaders agreed that up to 50,000 additional Indian workers may arrive in Israel within the next five years.
The Prime Ministers apprised the progress of the 35 centres of excellence in agriculture already operating across India. They noted with satisfaction that more than a million Indian farmers have been trained at these centres of excellence so far.
Combating Terror
Modi and Netanyahu called for decisive and concerted international efforts to combat terrorism in a comprehensive and sustained manner. However, they also reiterated their unwavering commitment to advancing global peace and security and welcomed US President Donald Trump’s “Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict.”
Speaking in the Israeli parliament on Wednesday, Modi said, “.The massacre of October 7, 2023 made it absolutely clear: either the jihadist axis of evil will break us, or we will break it.”
Netanyahu thanked Modi for his support in the aftermath of the Hamas invasion, saying, “After this murderous attack, you stood in such a clear way, so moral, so sharp… We will never forget this. In a world where antisemitism is rising, India stands out — a civilisation where Jews were never persecuted by the state, only welcomed. We don’t forget that.”
Netanyahu proposed an international alliance against ” Islamic terrorism.” Modi, however, mentioned terrorism in general and not Islamic terrorism as such.
Effusive Mutual Praise
Given the political need for mutual support, Modi and Netanyahu reached the limit in effusiveness about each other.
Netanyahu praised India’s tolerance toward its ancient Jewish communities. “In a world where antisemitism is rising, India stands out — a civilisation where Jews were never persecuted by the state, only welcomed. We don’t forget that, too. Thank you, India,” he said.
“I say our partnership is a match made in heaven and consecrated on earth,” Netanyahu had said in 2018 when he visited India.
He used similar language in his Knesset speech on Wednesday.
“Narendra, my dear friend, I am deeply, deeply moved by your visit here today. Because I have to be diplomatic, I will not rank it. I’ll get into trouble. But I’ve never been more moved than by your visit here with us, a great friend of Israel, a great champion of the Indian-Israeli alliance, and a great leader on the world stage,” Netanyahu said.
“I would almost venture to say [you are] more than a friend, a brother,” Netanyahu said, praising the technological cooperation between the countries in recent years.
“We’ve doubled our trade, tripled our cooperation, quadrupled our understanding in ways that I cannot begin to describe. In some ways, probably shouldn’t describe.”
Referring to the ancient Jewish community in India, Modi said that the Indian Jews 85,000 of whom had migrated to Israe,l considered Israel as their “ Fatherland” and India as their “Motherland”.
Modi Gets Support From Israeli Opposition
Given the fact that both Netanyahu and the Israeli opposition hold similar views on foreign and Palestinian policy, Opposition members of the Israeli parliament expressed whole-hearted support for strengthening ties with India.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid told Modi, “The entire State of Israel is filled with admiration for your leadership, for your friendship, for the fact that you were here for us in our time of trouble, and for the alliance, the eternal alliance between our two states.”
And Modi told Israeli parliamentarians, “India stands with Israel firmly with full conviction in this moment and beyond.”
END
