Jerusalem, February 24 – Prime Minister Narendra Modi's two-day visit to Israel, beginning on Wednesday, could lead to new agreements between the two countries, particularly in key sectors such as the economy, culture, defense, and possibly the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC).
Prime Minister Modi will pay an official visit to Israel on February 25-26 at the invitation of his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu. This will be Prime Minister Modi's second visit to Israel after his 2017 visit, which opened new avenues in defense, agriculture, and water management.
"From what I see, there is a great deal of pride and gratitude towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his visit. People appreciate India's economic growth, digital transformation, and stronger diplomatic presence under his leadership," Lauren Dagan Amoss, a researcher and lecturer on India politics and foreign policy, told IANS on Tuesday ahead of Prime Minister Modi's visit to the country.
During his visit, Prime Minister Modi will meet his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu, and the two leaders are scheduled to review the significant progress made in the India-Israel Strategic Partnership, and discuss further opportunities in various areas of cooperation, including science and technology, innovation, defense and security, agriculture, water management, trade and the economy, and people-to-people exchanges.
"India and Israel face similar security threats, including terrorism and radicalization. Because of this, defense cooperation has become a strong pillar of their relationship. Both countries can learn from each other's experiences, especially in areas like air defense and counter-terrorism. This mutual learning creates a deeper and more strategic partnership," Amoss told IANS.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated on Tuesday that Prime Minister Modi's visit will reaffirm the deep and long-standing strategic partnership between the two countries. Both leaders are also expected to exchange perspectives on regional and global issues of mutual interest.
The Israeli researcher highlighted that Prime Minister Modi's first visit to Israel in 2017 was "historic," as he was the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Israel.
"His second visit is also very meaningful, especially during a difficult time. Since October 7, India has consistently supported Israel. This has strengthened trust not only between the governments but also between the people of both countries," said Amoss.
"After recent military operations and the war in Gaza, both countries understand how important they are to each other. India and Israel appreciate each other’s achievements in defense technology. The only challenge may be issues related to intellectual property and technology transfer. However, I hope this visit will open doors and improve cooperation," she added.
