Select Language:
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Israel on Wednesday for a two-day official visit aimed at strengthening diplomatic and strategic ties amid rising regional tensions over the US-Iran conflict. This marks a continuation of the historic 2017 visit when Modi became the first Indian Prime Minister to travel to Israel, during which he and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu—who remains in office—walked barefoot along a Haifa beach and fostered a closer relationship.
The two leaders, who regard each other as friends, are anticipated to discuss advancements in artificial intelligence and defense cooperation, with Israel looking to expand its arms exports. An Israeli government representative stated that the visit is expected to “lay the groundwork for new partnerships and collaborations across various sectors,” with officials suggesting significant upgrades to their bilateral relationship.
Modi is scheduled to speak before Israel’s Knesset and participate in a ceremony at Yad Vashem, Israel’s national Holocaust memorial. The visit takes place amid heightened US military activity in the region, including the deployment of a large naval force near Iran’s coast and the dispatch of an aircraft carrier to the Mediterranean bound for Israel’s vicinity. These actions reflect concerns about a possible US strike on Iran and potential Iranian responses targeting Israel and American military sites across Gulf Arab nations, where millions of Indian expatriates work and remit substantial funds annually.
Indian think-tank analyst Kabir Taneja emphasized that New Delhi aims to avoid regional conflict, saying, “I’m sure those messages have been delivered before and will be reiterated during this visit.” An Israeli diplomat added that discussions might include regional security issues.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu recently described India as part of a future “axis” of like-minded countries whose cooperation is essential for mutual resilience and success. Despite its interests in purchasing Israeli military equipment, India maintains a cautious stance on forming formal alliances, sticking to its long-standing policy of non-alignment in international matters.
ChatGPT
Perplexity
Gemini AI
Grok AI
