TEL AVIV: Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi arrived in Israel on Wednesday for a two-day official visit aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation in defence, technology and trade, as regional tensions rise over the possibility of military confrontation between the United States and Iran.
Modi, who became the first Indian prime minister to visit Israel in 2017, is scheduled to hold talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Officials from both sides said discussions would focus on artificial intelligence, defence collaboration and expanding economic partnerships, with Israel seeking to boost its military exports.
An Israeli government official said the visit was expected to open new avenues for cooperation across multiple sectors, adding that bilateral ties were approaching a significant upgrade. During his visit, Modi is also expected to address the Knesset and lay a wreath at Yad Vashem, Israel’s official Holocaust memorial.
Regional security concerns
The visit comes amid heightened regional tensions, with Washington deploying naval assets near Iran and the Pentagon sending an aircraft carrier to the Mediterranean reportedly bound for Israel’s coast. Analysts say any US military action against Iran could trigger retaliation targeting Israel and US facilities in Gulf countries, where millions of Indian nationals reside and work.
Kabir Taneja of the Observer Research Foundation said India preferred stability in the region and was likely to convey concerns over escalation during high-level engagements.
Israeli officials indicated that regional developments would also form part of the discussions between the two leaders. Speaking earlier at a cabinet meeting, Netanyahu described India as part of a future group of like-minded nations cooperating on strategic issues.
Analysts note that while India is interested in procuring Israeli defence equipment, New Delhi may remain cautious about joining any formal alliance due to its longstanding policy of strategic autonomy.