Prime Minister Narendra Modi begins two day visit to Israel, defence cooperation on agenda

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Israel on Wednesday for a two day official visit, marking his first trip to the country in nearly nine years. He was received at the airport by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his spouse, Sara Netanyahu.

During the visit, Modi and Netanyahu held a one on one meeting in Tel Aviv to discuss bilateral cooperation. Officials indicated that security and strategic partnerships are expected to feature prominently in the talks, reflecting the growing ties between the two countries in recent years.

Modi is also scheduled to address the Israeli Parliament, becoming the first Indian prime minister to do so. His previous visit to Israel took place in July 2017, a trip widely seen as a milestone in strengthening diplomatic, defence and technology collaboration between New Delhi and Jerusalem.

Sources familiar with the discussions say defence procurement could be part of the agenda, including potential deals related to drones and anti ballistic missile systems. India and Israel have expanded defence trade over the past decade, with Israel emerging as one of India’s key suppliers of advanced military equipment.

The visit comes amid shifting geopolitical dynamics in the Middle East, where India has sought to balance strategic partnerships while expanding trade, innovation and security cooperation. Analysts say the outcome of the meetings may influence future defence and technology agreements between the two nations.