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PM Modi Israel visit ends with 27 outcomes; India-Israel ties upgraded to special strategic partnership, FTA talks gain momentum
Written By Ankit Kumar
Published: | Updated:
PM Modi’s Israel visit concluded with 27 outcomes and an upgrade of ties to a special strategic partnership, expanding cooperation in defence, technology, trade and labour mobility. India and Israel also pushed forward Free Trade Agreement talks, aiming to boost bilateral trade and deepen economic and strategic ties.
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PM Modi Israel visit ends with 27 outcomes; India-Israel ties upgraded to special strategic partnership. Image: ANI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi ended his two-day visit to Israel on February 26, 2026, with both countries agreeing to significantly scale up their partnership. India and Israel elevated ties to a Special Strategic Partnership. As part of the visit, 17 agreements were signed and 10 key announcements were made across defence, digital payments, agriculture, artificial intelligence, labour mobility and emerging technologies. The overall message was clear: both sides want to expand trade, deepen technology links and strengthen security cooperation in a more structured way.
Ties elevated to Special Strategic Partnership
Prime Minister Modi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the relationship as “time-tested” and rooted in shared democratic values and deep trust. Both countries agreed to expand cooperation in defence manufacturing through joint development and joint production of military equipment, including technology transfer arrangements. The leaders also reiterated their shared position that terrorism in any form is unacceptable and pledged closer counter-terror cooperation.
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Modi said India’s security interests are linked to peace and stability in West Asia and reiterated New Delhi’s support for the Gaza peace initiative.
27 outcomes across strategic and economic sectors
The visit produced 27 outcomes, including 17 agreements and MoUs and 10 strategic announcements across multiple sectors.
Key agreements include cooperation in:
- Geophysical exploration using advanced technologies and AI
- Maritime heritage collaboration at Lothal in Gujarat
- Cultural exchange programmes for 2026–2029
- Artificial intelligence research and education
- Fisheries and aquaculture development
- Financial sector cooperation and fintech regulation
- Cybersecurity collaboration
- Arbitration and mediation mechanisms
- Academic exchange programmes
A major digital initiative included an agreement between NPCI International and Israel’s MASAV to enable cross-border remittances using India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI).
Agriculture cooperation also got a major push, with both countries planning to set up an India–Israel Innovation Centre for Agriculture. The centre will focus on precision farming, satellite-based irrigation and other advanced technologies aimed at improving farm productivity and efficiency.
Labour mobility and worker quota announced
India and Israel signed three implementation protocols on labour mobility, covering commerce and services, manufacturing and restaurant sectors.Israel will allow up to 50,000 Indian workers over the next five years, opening up job opportunities in sectors such as retail, logistics, hospitality, textiles and electronics. Both sides said the move will follow a regulated recruitment process, with safeguards in place to protect workers’ rights and ensure fair employment conditions.
FTA negotiations gather momentum
A major focus of the visit was the proposed India–Israel Free Trade Agreement, with both sides committing to conclude negotiations soon.Negotiators met in New Delhi from February 23 to 26, 2026, for the first round of FTA talks. They addressed a broad spectrum of issues: trade in goods and services, rules of origin, customs procedures, intellectual property rights, digital trade, technical barriers, and sanitary standards.
They plan to meet again in Israel in May 2026 for the next round. Bilateral merchandise trade between the two countries stood at around $3.62 billion in FY 2024–25. Officials believe there is strong untapped potential, especially in machinery, chemicals, textiles, agriculture and advanced technology sectors.
Officials said the FTA would create a stable and predictable framework to boost trade and investment.
Technology partnership to drive future cooperation
India and Israel launched a new partnership on critical and emerging technologies, covering artificial intelligence, quantum technologies and critical minerals.
The Joint Committee on Science and Technology was upgraded to ministerial level, signalling stronger institutional cooperation.
Other announcements include:
- Financial Dialogue mechanism
- Tech-Gateway Initiative
- 20 joint agricultural research fellowships
- Expanded joint research funding
- India–Israel Academic Cooperation Forum
- Parliamentary Friendship Group
A proposed Indo-Israel Cyber Centre of Excellence in India will support digital resilience and cybersecurity best practices.
Economic and strategic ties enter new phase
The broad set of agreements signals a clear shift towards deeper economic integration and stronger, technology-led cooperation between India and Israel.
With the new Special Strategic Partnership status, ongoing FTA negotiations and expanded defence collaboration, the relationship is now positioned for faster growth in trade, innovation and security cooperation.
Modi’s visit marked his second trip to Israel in nine years and is being seen as a milestone in expanding India’s engagement in West Asia while strengthening ties with one of its key technology and defence partners.
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