Expanding India–Israel Strategic Convergence
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Israel for a two-day visit aimed at strengthening defence, trade and technology cooperation. During the trip, he is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog, while also addressing the Knesset.
Bilateral ties, formalised in 1992, have expanded significantly since Modi took office in 2014. Talks on an India-Israel Free Trade Agreement are underway, with merchandise trade reaching $3.62 billion in 2024–25. Cooperation spans defence systems, cyber-security, agriculture and drone technology. Notably, Israeli-origin military drones were reportedly used during the recent Pakistan-India tensions in May 2025, raising concerns in Islamabad over deepening military alignment.
Domestic Backlash and Regional Implications
The visit has drawn sharp criticism from India’s opposition. Leaders of the Indian National Congress, including Priyanka Gandhi and Jairam Ramesh, accused Modi of ignoring the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and questioned his embrace of Netanyahu.
From Pakistan’s perspective, India’s growing strategic partnership with Israel signals an emerging axis with implications for regional security, particularly amid ongoing instability in the Middle East.
