India & Israel Boost Defence and Technology Partnership Agreements

India and Israel have agreed to expand cooperation in defence cooperation, artificial intelligence, and bilateral trade following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two-day visit to Israel.

After talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, both sides announced that their relationship would be elevated to a Special Strategic Partnership. They also agreed to pursue a free trade agreement to increase commerce between the two countries.

More than a dozen agreements were signed across sectors including cybersecurity, space exploration, agriculture, education, investment and economic cooperation. Defence technology and emerging digital sectors were key areas of focus, reflecting growing strategic alignment.

• India and Israel elevate ties to Special Strategic Partnership
• Modi and Netanyahu expand defence, AI and trade cooperation
• India to extend UPI to Israel as 50,000 Indian workers gain access

Israel pledged to admit 50,000 additional Indian workers over the next five years. India said it would extend its Unified Payments Interface (UPI) system to Israel, strengthening digital payments cooperation and financial connectivity.

During the visit, Modi toured Yad Vashem, Israel’s Holocaust memorial, and addressed the Knesset. He condemned the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel and expressed solidarity with the Israeli people.

India has previously condemned the attack while also raising concerns about civilian casualties in Gaza and reiterating support for a two-state solution. In a joint statement, both countries condemned terrorism and cross-border terrorism and expressed support for the Gaza peace plan.

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The visit has drawn criticism from India’s opposition Congress party, which accused the government of moving away from its traditional support for Palestine. Officials said the trip reflects India’s broader India-Israel relations strategy and long-term interests in West Asia.