Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will arrive in Israel on Wednesday (February 25) on a two-day state visit to further strengthen bilateral diplomatic and strategic ties. This is his second visit to Israel in the last eight years.
During the visit, he will deliver a special address to the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, which is being seen as a symbol of the growing friendship between the two countries. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the visit last week, calling Modi his "close friend". Since Modi's historic visit in 2017, cooperation between the two countries in the technology, agriculture and security sectors has reached new heights.
Modi's visit comes at a time when the two countries' partnership in the defense sector is at the center of global discussions. According to the latest data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Israel has emerged as the world's eighth largest arms exporter between 2020 and 2024.
During this period, India was the largest buyer of Israeli weapons. India bought 34 percent of Israel's total arms exports, while the second-largest buyer was the United States, which bought 13 percent. India's huge dependence on Israel for defense equipment imports has deepened the strategic alliance between the two countries.
Political analysts believe that Modi's visit will further expand the existing multifaceted relationship between Israel and India. In addition to security, the top leaders of the two countries are expected to hold detailed discussions on water resources management and the exchange of advanced technology. However, Modi's visit has been met with mixed reactions in India's domestic politics and public.
While a large section of the country considers this alliance essential for national security, another section has different views on maintaining India's neutral position in the geopolitical context of the Middle East.
This special relationship between Israel and India is not limited to arms transactions, but is part of a long-term strategic partnership. The visit is expected to give a fresh impetus to the various bilateral initiatives taken during Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to India in 2018.
The international community is now looking to Modi's speech in the Knesset, where he is likely to outline the future of India-Israel relations. Experts see the visit as highly significant in strengthening India's position in South Asian politics and global diplomacy.
