Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming visit to Israel is expected to deepen a strategic partnership that has quietly become one of the most consequential diplomatic relationships in the Middle East, according to Israeli officials preparing for the high-level meetings.
Israel's ambassador to India, Reuven Azar, told Jewish Insider that the visit would take bilateral relations "to a new, strategic level," signaling an expansion of defense, technology, and intelligence cooperation between the two democracies.
The visit comes at a moment when Israel is actively diversifying its diplomatic portfolio beyond traditional Western allies, seeking deeper partnerships with rising powers in Asia and the Global South. For New Delhi, the relationship offers access to Israeli defense technology, cybersecurity expertise, and agricultural innovation at a time of heightened regional security concerns.
In Israel, as across contested regions, security concerns and aspirations for normalcy exist in constant tension. The India-Israel partnership represents a model of how shared security interests can transcend traditional diplomatic alignments.
Defense cooperation has formed the backbone of the relationship, with India now one of Israel's largest arms customers. Israeli drones, missile defense systems, and surveillance technology have become integral to Indian military modernization. The partnership has expanded into intelligence sharing on counterterrorism, an area where both countries face persistent threats.
But the relationship extends well beyond defense. Israel's agricultural technology has transformed water management and crop yields in water-scarce regions of India, while Israeli cybersecurity firms have become key partners for Indian digital infrastructure. Trade between the two countries has grown to several billion dollars annually, and a free trade agreement is under negotiation.
For Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government, the India partnership represents a diplomatic success story at a time when relations with some Western allies have grown strained. India's growing global influence and its position as the world's most populous democracy make it a valuable partner for Israel's long-term strategic positioning.
The visit also carries symbolic weight. Modi's 2017 trip to Israel was the first by an Indian prime minister in decades and marked a turning point in the relationship. A return visit would underscore how dramatically bilateral ties have evolved from India's historically pro-Palestinian stance during the Cold War era.
Yet the relationship faces complexities. India maintains significant ties with Iran and Arab states, and its large Muslim population means New Delhi must carefully balance its Israel relationship with broader Middle East diplomacy. India has historically supported Palestinian statehood, even as security cooperation with Israel has deepened.
Israeli officials emphasize that the partnership is built on pragmatic interests rather than ideological alignment. Both countries face terrorism threats, both are technology innovators, and both see value in democratic partnerships that aren't dependent on Western diplomatic frameworks.
The visit is expected to yield announcements on expanded cooperation in emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, space technology, and quantum computing—areas where both countries are making significant investments. Israeli defense firms are also reportedly seeking expanded access to India's vast defense market.
For Israeli diplomats, the India relationship demonstrates that Israel's diplomatic isolation is far less severe than critics suggest. While European capitals and some American constituencies have grown critical of Israeli policies, Israel has simultaneously built robust partnerships across Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
As Modi prepares for his visit, the strategic partnership reflects a broader recalibration in global diplomacy—one where traditional alliances are giving way to partnerships built on shared interests, technological compatibility, and security cooperation. For Israel, that shift has opened diplomatic doors that were closed for decades.
