India and Israel Elevate Ties with ‘Special Strategic Partnership for Peace, Innovation & Prosperity’.
New Delhi / Tel Aviv:
In a landmark development, Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded a state visit to Israel on February 25–26, 2026, at the invitation of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The visit culminated in the announcement of a “Special Strategic Partnership for Peace, Innovation & Prosperity”, aimed at deepening bilateral collaboration across technology, defence, agriculture, health, cyber, space, and trade.
Recalling Modi’s historic visit to Israel in 2017 and Netanyahu’s visit to India in 2018, both leaders highlighted the progress in bilateral ties over the years. They noted that Israel’s strength in technology and innovation complements India’s talent, manufacturing capabilities, and entrepreneurial energy, paving the way for transformative cooperation in emerging sectors such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, quantum computing, biotechnology, semiconductors, and space exploration.
Defence and Security Cooperation
Building on the Memorandum of Understanding on Defence Cooperation signed in November 2025, both leaders outlined a roadmap to expand defence collaboration, including joint research and technological development of defence platforms. They reaffirmed their commitment to combating terrorism, condemning recent terror attacks in both countries, and endorsed international efforts to maintain peace and security in the region.
Technology, Innovation and Research
The Prime Ministers announced enhanced collaboration under the India-Israel Industrial R&D and Innovation Fund (I4F), increasing funding for joint research projects from USD 1 million to USD 1.5 million per side. Initiatives include:
- Expansion of AI collaboration through a new MoU.
- Establishment of an India-Israel Cyber Centre of Excellence.
- Strengthened academia–industry linkages and Tech Gateway mechanisms for joint R&D.
- Enhanced cooperation in space, robotics, and emerging technologies.
Trade, Investment, and Connectivity
Both countries committed to accelerating Free Trade Area (FTA) negotiations, boosting bilateral investments, linking India’s UPI with Israel’s fast payment systems, and expanding direct air connectivity. They also endorsed participation in major Israeli infrastructure projects and financial-cyber resilience collaborations.
Agriculture, Water, and Environment
India and Israel agreed to expand cooperation in water management, wastewater reuse, river cleaning, and sustainable agriculture. The signing of the India–Israel Innovation Centre for Agriculture (IINCA) and joint fellowships for Indian researchers aim to benefit millions of farmers and strengthen innovation-led growth.
Education, Health, and People-to-People Ties
The two leaders highlighted academic cooperation, including student and faculty exchanges, AI-driven education initiatives, and partnerships between universities like Nalanda University and Hebrew University of Jerusalem. In health, the countries plan to hold the first Joint Working Group on Health in 2026 to collaborate on AI and digital healthcare innovations.
Cultural and Workforce Engagement
Prime Ministers Modi and Netanyahu underscored the importance of Indian workers in Israel and signed protocols to expand opportunities for up to 50,000 additional workers in the next five years. They also signed agreements promoting cultural exchanges in cinema, sports, and arts for 2026–2029.
The leaders concluded the visit by signing a series of 16 agreements and MoUs, covering areas including AI, cybersecurity, education, agriculture, fisheries, geophysical exploration, maritime heritage, arbitration, and fintech, setting the foundation for a long-term, innovation-driven, and mutually beneficial partnership.
