New Delhi | RBN News
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to begin a two-day official visit to Israel on February 25, marking nine years since his landmark 2017 trip — the first-ever visit by an Indian prime minister to the country.
The upcoming visit comes at a diplomatically sensitive moment. India recently joined more than 100 nations in condemning Israel’s expansion measures in the occupied West Bank, after initially appearing hesitant to sign the joint statement. The development has drawn attention to New Delhi’s evolving Middle East strategy.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently indicated that both leaders would discuss “all sorts of cooperation,” underlining the depth of bilateral engagement.
Strategic Partnership: Defence, Technology, Trade
India and Israel have significantly strengthened ties over the past three decades, particularly in defence procurement, cybersecurity, agriculture technology, water management and innovation.
Since establishing full diplomatic relations in 1992, bilateral cooperation has steadily expanded. India has emerged as one of Israel’s largest defence equipment buyers. Israeli firms such as Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Elbit Systems have partnered with Indian companies for joint ventures and technology transfer.
Trade has also grown sharply — from approximately $200 million in 1992 to $6.5 billion in 2024, according to India’s Ministry of External Affairs. India exports precious stones, chemicals, machinery and petroleum products to Israel, while importing defence systems, high-tech equipment and specialised machinery.
Last year, both countries signed a Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT), aimed at strengthening investment flows and regulatory certainty.
Historical Context: From Opposition to Engagement
1930s–1940s: Opposition to Partition
During British colonial rule, India strongly supported Palestinian self-determination. In 1947, India voted against the United Nations partition plan that proposed dividing Palestine into Jewish and Arab states. It also voted against Israel’s admission to the UN in 1949.
1950–1980s: Recognition Without Full Ties
India formally recognised Israel in 1950 but refrained from establishing diplomatic relations for over four decades. Publicly, New Delhi maintained strong pro-Palestinian positions. However, archival records suggest limited security cooperation during conflicts in 1962, 1965 and 1971.
1992: Formal Diplomatic Relations
Following the Cold War, India established full diplomatic ties with Israel in January 1992. Defence cooperation deepened, particularly during the 1999 Kargil conflict when Israel supplied military equipment to India.
Post-2014: Visible Strategic Convergence
Under the Modi government, bilateral ties entered a more open and politically visible phase. Modi’s 2017 Israel visit and Netanyahu’s 2018 India visit marked symbolic milestones. India also participated in multilateral defence exercises hosted by Israel.
India’s Position on Palestine: Strategic Balancing
India officially continues to support a two-state solution — advocating a sovereign Palestinian state living alongside Israel. However, its voting pattern at the United Nations reflects calibrated diplomacy.
India has abstained on several UN resolutions related to ceasefire calls and investigations into Israel’s military actions in Gaza. At the same time, it has expressed concern over humanitarian conditions and recently joined a joint statement criticising settlement expansion in the West Bank.
Analysts describe India’s approach as strategic balancing — deepening cooperation with Israel in defence and technology, while preserving strong ties with Arab nations and maintaining engagement with Palestinian leadership.
Energy security, trade with Gulf countries, and the welfare of millions of Indian expatriates in the region remain critical considerations in shaping New Delhi’s West Asia policy.
Significance of the Upcoming Visit
Modi’s February 25 visit is expected to focus on:
- Defence co-production and advanced systems
- Innovation and startup ecosystem partnerships
- Cybersecurity and artificial intelligence collaboration
- Agricultural and water technology exchange
- Investment and trade expansion
Given regional tensions, particularly involving Iran and broader geopolitical shifts, the visit is likely to be diplomatically calibrated. Observers expect references to Gaza and the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict to remain measured and aligned with India’s long-standing support for a negotiated two-state solution.
Broader Strategic Implications
India’s engagement with Israel forms part of a wider West Asia strategy — one that seeks multi-alignment rather than zero-sum positioning. New Delhi continues to strengthen partnerships across Israel, the Gulf states, and other regional actors simultaneously.
Modi’s visit underscores India’s intent to institutionalise strategic cooperation with Israel while maintaining diplomatic equilibrium in a volatile region.
The outcome of the trip may further define India’s long-term positioning in Middle East geopolitics, balancing defence partnerships with its historic support for Palestinian statehood and its economic stakes across the Arab world.
