Modi’s return to Israel after eight years marks a decisive shift from political caution to a high-stakes military alliance. As India seeks to “de-hyphenate” its Middle East policy, the focus has pivoted to a strategic security summit centered on “Make-in-India” defense production, hypersonic-ready surveillance, and AI warfare
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to touch down in Israel this week for a landmark visit that marks his first standalone engagement with the country in nearly eight years. While the trip carries the weight of a historic anniversary, officials in both New Delhi and Jerusalem suggest the primary agenda is far from ceremonial.
Instead, the focus has shifted entirely toward a hard-nosed strategic security and military-technology summit.
From caution to open cooperation
For decades, Indian leadership maintained a degree of political distance from Israel to avoid backlash from Arab nations and domestic sensitivities. However, the Modi administration has successfully “de-hyphenated” its Israel policy from the Palestinian issue.
Today, India manages its ties with both the Arab world and Israel with newfound confidence, treating Jerusalem not as a sensitive partner, but as an indispensable strategic collaborator.
And defence has emerged as the undisputed backbone of the relationship.
Israel is now among India’s top arms suppliers, with a partnership that has evolved from simple “buyer-seller” transactions to sophisticated joint production.
The summit is expected to prioritise high-end, battlefield-ready technology that other partners—including Russia and the United States—often provide with significant delays or restrictive “end-use” clauses.
Key areas of focus include enhancing precision strike and surveillance capabilities through drones, loitering munitions, and advanced border monitoring systems. The partnership also prioritises strategic shielding, with plans for joint production of missile defence systems and electronic warfare suites. Looking ahead, both sides are investing in the next frontier of warfare — AI-driven combat systems, cybersecurity frameworks, and sophisticated counter-drone architectures designed to meet emerging threats.
The ‘Make-in-India’ push
A major objective of this visit is to align Israeli innovation with India’s domestic manufacturing goals. New Delhi is less interested in off-the-shelf procurement and more focused on the transfer of technology (ToT).
India is specifically looking to replicate the Israeli model of integrating the military, high-tech startups, and research institutions to create a self-sustaining defense ecosystem.
The visit comes at a time of extreme regional instability. With the Red Sea under threat from maritime attacks, ongoing tensions with Hezbollah, and the looming shadow of US-Iran friction, India views security cooperation with Israel as increasingly valuable. Israel’s combat-tested equipment and rapid innovation cycles offer India immediate solutions for its own border security challenges.
The shift is permanent. As Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently noted, Israel has reached a level of unprecedented popularity in India.
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