India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarked on a trip to Israel on Wednesday for a two-day visit aimed at enhancing relations with a significant trade and defense ally, sparking critique domestically. Modi expressed, “Our nations share a robust and multifaceted strategic partnership,” in a departure statement, mentioning scheduled meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and an address to the Knesset, Israel’s parliament. The Prime Minister emphasized that bilateral ties have notably strengthened in recent years.
New Delhi has progressively broadened collaboration with Israel in defense, agriculture, technology, and cybersecurity while maintaining a delicate balance in the Middle East. Discussions commenced in New Delhi on Monday for an India-Israel Free Trade Agreement (FTA), according to an official statement from the Indian government, citing total merchandise trade at $3.62 billion in 2024-2025. Modi outlined plans to engage with Netanyahu to “explore avenues to enhance cooperation,” alongside a meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog.
Diplomatic relations between the two nations were formally established in 1992, with ties deepening after Hindu-nationalist leader Modi assumed office in 2014. Modi previously visited Israel as Prime Minister in 2017, reciprocated by Netanyahu’s visit to India the following year. Both leaders, positioned on the right-wing of the political spectrum, have referred to each other as “friends.”
In September 2023, ambitious initiatives were revealed in New Delhi for an India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor, intending to connect railways, ports, electricity, data networks, and pipelines, including passages through Saudi Arabia and Israel. These plans encountered obstacles following Hamas’s deadly attack on Israel on October 7, prompting a severe conflict in the Gaza Strip.
Senior Congress party member Priyanka Gandhi, sister of opposition leader Rahul Gandhi, expressed hope via social media on Wednesday that Modi would address the tragic loss of “thousands of innocent men, women, and children in Gaza” during his speech at Israel’s parliament. India, with a population of 1.4 billion, predominantly Hindu, accommodates an estimated 220 million Muslim residents.
The Adani Group, one of India’s prominent conglomerates, manages operations at the Haifa port in the Mediterranean, while Israeli drone technology played a pivotal role during India’s conflict with Pakistan in May 2025. Simultaneously, India maintains robust ties with Gulf nations, Tehran, and is involved in the development of Iran’s Chabahar port, serving as a crucial trade route to Afghanistan, where New Delhi has fostered relations with Taliban authorities.