India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, embarked on a two-day trip to Israel to strengthen ties with a crucial trade and defense partner, sparking criticism domestically. Modi emphasized the robust and multifaceted strategic partnership between the two nations and highlighted the significant strengthening of ties in recent years.
Bilateral cooperation between New Delhi and Israel has expanded across various sectors such as defense, agriculture, technology, and cybersecurity while also navigating diplomatic interests in the Middle East. Discussions began in New Delhi for an India-Israel Free Trade Agreement, with total merchandise trade amounting to $3.62 billion in 2024-2025.
During the visit, Modi aimed to enhance cooperation through discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and a meeting with President Isaac Herzog. The establishment of full diplomatic relations in 1992 laid the foundation for deepening ties, especially after Modi, a Hindu-nationalist leader, assumed office in 2014.
Plans for an India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor, connecting railways, ports, electricity, data networks, and pipelines, were unveiled in September 2023 in New Delhi. However, these plans faced setbacks following Hamas’s attack on Israel, leading to a conflict in the Gaza Strip.
Opposition figures, including Priyanka Gandhi, expressed concerns about the Gaza conflict and urged Modi to address the issue during his speech in Israel’s parliament. India, with a population of 1.4 billion, has a majority Hindu population but also includes around 220 million Muslims.
Noteworthy collaborations between the two countries include the Adani Group’s operation of the Haifa port and the use of Israeli military drone technology in India’s clash with Pakistan in May 2025. India’s relations extend to Gulf nations, Tehran, and the development of Iran’s Chabahar port, a key trade route to Afghanistan, where New Delhi has engaged with Taliban authorities.
