Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to embark on a two-day state visit to Israel starting Wednesday, February 25, 2026, with defence, security, and science & technology emerging as key priorities on the bilateral agenda. The visit aims to strengthen the India-Israel Strategic Partnership, which was elevated during Modi’s first trip to the country in July 2017.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the leaders will review progress in ties and explore new opportunities across multiple sectors, including defence and security, science and technology, innovation, agriculture, water management, trade and economy, and people-to-people exchanges.During the visit, Modi will address Israel’s parliament (the Knesset) on Wednesday and hold delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday.
He will also pay a courtesy call on Israeli President Isaac Herzog. The discussions are expected to cover shared perspectives on regional and global issues of mutual interest, reaffirming the bond between the two resilient democracies amid common challenges.Defence and security cooperation will be a major focus, building on recent developments.
In November 2025, the two countries signed an MoU during their joint working group meeting to deepen military ties, emphasizing advanced technology sharing, co-development, and co-production of weapons systems. Areas highlighted include defence industrial collaboration, R&D, technological innovation, AI, and cybersecurity.
While no major defence deal is confirmed for this visit, several memoranda of understanding are anticipated, including on security cooperation. Israel has agreed to share cutting-edge defence technologies with India, with reports pointing to potential collaboration on anti-ballistic missile systems, laser-based defences, drones, and integration of technologies like Iron Dome into India’s indigenous programs.
The visit follows India’s use of Israeli-origin weapons—such as missiles, bombs, and loitering munitions—during Operation Sindoor, a May 2025 military engagement with Pakistan, prompting efforts to replenish stocks.Beyond defence, the agenda includes boosting trade, economic ties, innovation, and agriculture. Netanyahu has described Modi as a “personal friend” and India as a “global power,” signaling strong personal rapport and expectations for enhanced cooperation in high-tech fields like AI and quantum computing.
This trip comes against a backdrop of regional tensions, including India’s recent alignment with international statements condemning Israeli settlement expansions in the West Bank, consistent with New Delhi’s support for a two-state solution and Palestinian rights. Overall, the visit is positioned to realign efforts toward a more robust partnership in defence, technology, and beyond.
