India-Israel Relations

Israel’s Foreign Minister, Gideon Sa’ar is on a three-day visit to India. External affairs minister S Jaishankar met with the Israeli foreign minister in New Delhi.

• The 17th India–Israel Joint Working Group (JWG) Meeting on Defence Cooperation was held in Tel Aviv, Israel co-chaired by Defence Secretary of India and Director General of the Israeli Ministry.

Foreign Ministers’ Dialogue – New Delhi

• Counter-Terror Cooperation: India and Israel agreed to intensify efforts to counter global terrorism and promote a “zero-tolerance” approach to all forms of terror.
• Discussion on Gaza Peace Plan: Both sides supported ongoing peace efforts in Gaza and emphasized the need for lasting regional stability.
• Expansion of Economic and Technological Ties: Talks included cooperation in trade, infrastructure, renewable energy, semiconductors, and cybersecurity.
• Support for Connectivity Initiatives: India and Israel reaffirmed their commitment to the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) and the I2U2 partnership.

Timeline of India-Israel Relations

• 1947: India opposed the partition of Palestine at the UN, rejecting the idea of creating separate nations based on religious criteria.
• 1950: India officially recognized the existence of Israel. 
  • 1953: Israel opened a consulate in Mumbai, mainly for trade and visa services.
• 1950s–1980s: India maintained a pro-Arab policy under the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and in support of the Palestinian cause.
  • Due to Cold War dynamics and a commitment to the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), it did not establish full diplomatic relations
  • Despite this, covert defence and intelligence contacts gradually developed, especially after the 1962 Sino-Indian War and the 1971 Indo-Pak war.
• 1992: India and Israel established full diplomatic relations.  

• 2017: A major shift in India-Israel relations occurred with the Indian Prime Minister’s state visit to Israel, becoming the first Indian Prime Minister to do so. 
• 2018: India voted in favor of a resolution presented by Turkey and Yemen at the UN, opposing the US decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
• 2021: India abstained from voting on a resolution at the UN Human Rights Council to create a permanent commission to investigate human rights violations in Gaza, the West Bank, and Palestine.

India-Israel Relationship: Key Areas of Cooperation

• Economic & Commercial Ties: Bilateral trade grew from US$ 200 million in 1992 (comprising primarily of diamonds) to US$ 10.77 billion (Excluding defense) in FY 2022-23 (Peak) 
  • India is Israel’s second-largest country partner in Asia for merchandise trade. 
  • Major Exports: Pearls and precious stones, automotive diesel, chemical and mineral products, machinery and electrical equipment, plastics, textile and apparel products, base metals and transport equipment, agricultural products.
  • Major Imports:  Pearls and precious stones, chemical and mineral/fertilizer products, machinery and electrical equipment, petroleum oils, defense, machinery and transport equipment.
• I2U2 Partnership: Formed in 2021, includes India, Israel, UAE, and the US. 
  • It aimed at promoting economic development, scientific innovation, and regional stability.
• Defense Cooperation: Israel is one of the top arms supplier to India, with collaboration on counter-terrorism. 
  • Over the past ten years, India has imported $2.9 billion worth of military hardware from Israel, including radars, surveillance and combat drones, and missiles
• Agricultural Cooperation: In 1993, the first Agreement on Cooperation in Agriculture was signed.
  • 2006: Comprehensive Work Plan on Agriculture launched (3-year cycles) which is implemented through MASHAV (Israel’s Agency for International Development Cooperation).

• • 2025: A new Agriculture Cooperation Agreement and Work Plan in the Horticulture Sector were signed to strengthen bilateral ties in: Soil and water management, Horticultural and agricultural production, Post-harvest and processing technology, Agricultural mechanization, Animal husbandry and Research & Development
• Science & Technology: India-Israel cooperation in Science & Technology (S&T) is overseen by the Joint Committee on S&T, established under the Agreement of Science & Technology cooperation signed in 1993. 
  • I4F Fund promotes industrial R&D between India and Israel.
  • The US$40 million India-Israel Industrial R&D and Technological Innovation Fund (I4F) was established in 2017 to foster joint industrial research and development projects between companies from both countries.
• Energy: India actively bids for exploration licenses in Israel’s Tamar and Levianthan gas fields. Indian firms ONGC Videsh and Indian Oil awarded exploration licenses.
• Cultural Exchange: Around 85,000 Indian-origin Jews live in Israel, contributing to cultural ties. Academic collaborations and joint research funding programs initiated.

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Challenges in India-Israel Relations

• Relation with Iran: Israel views Iran as a threat, while India values cooperation with Iran for energy supplies and the Chabahar port route.
  • Regional volatility, especially Israel-Hamas conflict (2023–25), forces India to adopt a cautious diplomatic tone, avoiding overt military endorsement.
• Energy Security: The conflict between Israel and Iran poses serious risks to India’s energy imports and regional connectivity projects, including the Chabahar Port and the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). 
  • Disruptions in the Persian Gulf or Red Sea could directly impact India’s oil supply routes and strategic maritime interests.
• Balancing Relations with the Arab World: India’s West Asia policy has to balance ties between Israel and the Arab nations, including Iran and Palestine.
  • India maintains support for the Palestinian cause and has deep energy, trade, and diaspora interests with Gulf countries.
  • Any overt alignment with Israel (e.g., during Gaza conflicts) risks diplomatic friction with Arab partners crucial for India’s oil, remittances, and labour market.
• China Factor: China is Israel’s largest trading partner in Asia, complicating India-Israel relations due to Beijing’s strong tech and investment ties with Israel.
• Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Delays: Despite robust trade , there is no FTA yet between the two countries.
  • This limits the scope for investment diversification beyond defence and diamonds.
• Security & Cyber Concerns: Incidents such as the Pegasus spyware controversy (2021) and suspected cyber espionage raise trust and privacy issues.

Way Forward

• Deepen Strategic Convergence: Build on the momentum of the 17th JWG by moving from buyer–seller defence ties to co-development and joint production, ensuring genuine technology transfer under Atmanirbhar Bharat
• Prioritize National Interests: India must balance its interests in the Middle East while maintaining flexibility in dealing with both Israel and Arab nations.
• Comprehensive Cooperation: A holistic approach to foster collaboration at governmental, business, and inter-business levels.
• Enhance Counter-Terror & Cyber Frameworks: Institutionalize joint intelligence sharing and cyber-security protocols to counter terrorism and data threats, ensuring transparency and trust.
• Increase People-to-People (P2P) Contact: Enhanced citizen engagement can deepen bilateral ties.
• Expand Trade Volumes: Despite growth, trade is still below potential. An FTA should be finalized to expand the trade basket.
• Balance Israel-Palestine Relations: India should strike a balance between its relations with Israel and Palestine to align with geostrategic and moral considerations.
• Strengthen People-to-People and Academic Ties: Foster collaboration between universities, research institutions, and start-ups to build a sustainable knowledge partnership beyond security domains.
• Utilize Multilateral Platforms: Use I2U2 and IMEC frameworks to promote regional connectivity, resilient supply chains, and shared innovation across West Asia.

Conclusion

India–Israel relations have evolved into a multifaceted strategic partnership rooted in defence, technology, and innovation, reflecting deep mutual trust and shared interests.
Going forward, a balanced and pragmatic approach will enable both nations to expand cooperation while safeguarding regional stability and India’s wider West Asia interests.