What Happened
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Israel on February 25-26, 2026 — his second visit to Israel — meeting with PM Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem.
- The two countries elevated their bilateral relationship from a "strategic partnership" to a "special strategic partnership," with 27 bilateral outcomes: 16 agreements and 11 joint initiatives.
- Key areas of cooperation announced: defence and critical technologies, a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiating framework, labour mobility, agriculture, an Indo-Israel Cyber Centre of Excellence, and an NSA-led joint initiative on critical and emerging technologies.
- Netanyahu described Modi as a "personal friend" and the visit as "extraordinarily productive."
- Modi expressed condolences for Israeli lives lost in the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks but did not publicly address Israel's military campaign in Gaza, which has killed over 73,000 Palestinians by the time of the visit.
- The visit came just days after India joined over 100 nations in condemning Israeli settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank.
Static Topic Bridges
History of India-Israel Relations: From Estrangement to Partnership
India was among the first countries to recognise Israel's statehood in September 1950, but did not establish full diplomatic relations for decades — largely to maintain its standing with Arab states (critical for oil supply and support on the Kashmir question at the UN) and to honour its Non-Aligned Movement commitments. Full diplomatic relations were established only in January 1992, when P.V. Narasimha Rao's government normalised ties. This coincided with the Madrid Peace Process (1991), which gave India diplomatic cover to engage Israel without appearing to abandon the Palestinian cause. Since 1992, bilateral trade has grown from under $200 million to approximately $7-8 billion by 2024. PM Modi's first visit to Israel in July 2017 was itself historic — the first ever by an Indian Prime Minister.
- Israel recognised by India: September 17, 1950.
- Full diplomatic relations: established January 29, 1992 (under PM P.V. Narasimha Rao).
- PM Modi's first Israel visit: July 4-6, 2017 — first-ever by an Indian PM; bilateral ties upgraded to "strategic partnership."
- India-Israel bilateral trade: approximately $7-8 billion (2024), including approximately $2.5 billion in defence trade.
- India is Israel's 7th largest trading partner; Israel is one of India's major sources of defence equipment and agricultural technology.
Connection to this news: The 2026 visit's elevation to "special strategic partnership" builds on 30+ years of post-1992 normalisation — accelerated dramatically under the Modi-Netanyahu personal relationship and India's growing defence modernisation needs.
India-Israel Defence Cooperation
Defence and security cooperation has been the backbone of the India-Israel relationship since the 1999 Kargil War, when Israel rapidly supplied India with surveillance drones (Heron) and Litening targeting pods for fighter jets at a time when other allies hesitated. Israel is now one of the top three suppliers of military equipment to India (alongside Russia and France). Key defence partnerships include: unmanned aerial systems (UAVs/drones), missile systems (Barak-8 air defence developed jointly with India, now called the LR-SAM / MR-SAM), electro-optical systems, electronic intelligence, and cybersecurity. Israel's defence exports to India average approximately $1-2 billion annually, making India consistently Israel's largest defence export destination.
- Kargil War (1999): Israel provided emergency supply of drones and targeting systems; significantly aided India's reconnaissance over Pakistan-occupied heights.
- Heron and Hermes drones: Israeli-origin UAVs operated by all three Indian armed services.
- Barak-8 / LR-SAM / MR-SAM: jointly developed by DRDO (India) and IAI/Rafael (Israel); deployed on Indian Navy ships and for land-based air defence.
- 2026 MOU on Defence Cooperation: signed November 2025, ahead of Modi's Israel visit; acknowledged "significant growth in defence cooperation."
- India-Israel Cyber Centre of Excellence: announced during the February 2026 visit; to be set up in India.
Connection to this news: The NSA-led initiative on critical and emerging technologies announced during the visit suggests that the next phase of India-Israel defence cooperation will move beyond hardware procurement into co-development of cyber, AI, and space-based defence capabilities.
India's "De-Hyphenated" West Asia Policy
India has historically maintained what it calls a "de-hyphenated" approach to West Asian relations — keeping its ties with Israel, Arab states, Iran, and Palestinian Authority as separate bilateral relationships rather than conditioning one on another. This policy, articulated explicitly under Modi's government, allows India to buy Israeli defence technology, export to Gulf states, maintain an oil import relationship with Iran, and still officially support a two-state solution for Palestine. The approach contrasts with Cold War-era Non-Aligned Movement solidarity, when India often subordinated Israel ties to Arab solidarity. Modi's 2026 Israel visit — taken while the Gaza conflict continued at devastating scale — tests the limits of this de-hyphenated model.
- De-hyphenation: India refuses to link its Israel ties to the Palestinian issue; similarly refuses to let Arab pressure determine its Israel policy.
- India's official position: supports a two-state solution (independent Palestine alongside a secure Israel); voted for the September 2025 UNGA resolution on peaceful settlement.
- India abstained on multiple UN ceasefire resolutions regarding Gaza 2023-25.
- India is a significant investor in Gulf states (large diaspora remittances, trade) and simultaneously increasing defence ties with Israel — a difficult balancing act.
Connection to this news: Modi's visit to Israel — and the silence on Gaza — represents de-hyphenation in practice: India is deepening strategic ties with Israel for its own economic and security interests, while separately maintaining formal support for Palestinian statehood through UN votes. Critics see this as inconsistent; proponents argue it maximises India's strategic flexibility.
Key Facts & Data
- India recognised Israel: September 17, 1950; full diplomatic relations: January 29, 1992.
- Modi's first Israel visit: July 2017 (first by any Indian PM); second visit: February 25-26, 2026.
- Bilateral outcomes: 27 total (16 agreements + 11 joint initiatives) from the 2026 visit.
- Partnership elevated: "strategic partnership" → "special strategic partnership" (February 2026).
- India-Israel bilateral trade: approximately $7-8 billion (2024), including ~$2.5 billion in defence.
- Israel: consistently India's largest defence export destination; India: Israel's 7th largest trade partner.
- Barak-8 / LR-SAM: jointly developed air defence missile system; deployed by Indian Navy.
- FTA talks: Terms of Reference signed; first negotiating round to be held in New Delhi.
- Gaza death toll (Israeli military campaign): over 73,000 Palestinians killed by February 2026.
- India's UN votes on Gaza: abstained on multiple ceasefire resolutions (2023-25); voted for two-state solution resolution (September 2025).