PM Modi to be on two-day State visit to Israel, reaffirm strategic partnership says MEA

PM Modi on a 2-day State visit to Israel from February 25.

• PM Modi to visit Israel on February 25-26 for talks
• Leaders to review India-Israel strategic partnership progress
• Defence, tech, and trade cooperation to be key discussion areas

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The Ministry of External Affairs on Tuesday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be on a State visit to Israel on February 25 and 26, thereby marking his second visit to the country.

In a press release, the ministry said during his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the two leaders will review the significant progress made in India - Israel Strategic Partnership, and discuss further opportunities in various areas of cooperation.

"During the visit, Prime Minister will meet Prime Minister of Israel, H.E. Mr. The two leaders will review the significant progress made in India - Israel Strategic Partnership, and discuss further opportunities in various areas of cooperation, including science and technology, innovation, defence and security, agriculture, water management, trade and economy, and people to people exchanges. The leaders are also expected to exchange perspectives on regional and global issues of mutual interest," read MEA's communique. The ministry also added that during PM Modi's visit, he will call on the President of Israel.

"This visit will reaffirm the deep and long-standing strategic partnership between the two countries and will present an opportunity to review the common challenges as well as realign efforts towards achieving their shared vision for a robust partnership between two resilient democracies," the ministry added in its release.

The India-Israel relationship was elevated to the level of strategic partnership during Modi's first visit to that country in July, 2017. Israeli PM Netanyahu had made a return visit to India in January 2018. India and Israel share a robust strategic partnership with strong cooperation across science and technology, innovation, defence and security, trade and investment, agriculture, water, and people-to-people relations.

There has been an upswing in the India-Israel ties in the last few years including in the areas of defence, scientific research, cybersecurity and innovation. The defence cooperation has emerged as an important pillar of the partnership between the two sides with Israel supplying a plethora of military platforms and weapon systems to India.

However, amid escalating tensions and a U.S. military build-up across the West Asian region, members of Parliament’s Standing Committee on External Affairs on Monday raised concerns over the timing of the trip.