India and Israel have taken a significant step forward in their defence partnership, signing a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that promises to deepen cooperation in advanced military technologies and industrial collaboration. The agreement, inked during the 17th meeting of the India-Israel Joint Working Group (JWG) on Defence Cooperation in Tel Aviv, underscores the growing strategic alignment between the two nations.
Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh led the Indian delegation, while Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz represented his country. The MoU provides a “unified vision and policy direction to deepen the already strong defence cooperation between the two countries,” according to the Indian Defence Ministry. It covers a broad spectrum of areas, including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, defence research, innovation, and industrial collaboration.
“India-Israel defence partnership is long-standing based on deep mutual trust and shared security interests,” the ministry stated. The pact builds on years of military hardware transactions, with Israel supplying India with weapon systems, missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles. However, this new agreement shifts the focus towards co-development and co-production, signalling a more collaborative approach to defence innovation.
The MoU identifies key fields for cooperation, such as strategic dialogues, training, defence industrial collaboration, and technological advancements. “The MoU will enable the sharing of advanced technology and would promote co-development and co-production,” the ministry said. This move is expected to enhance operational capabilities and foster technological innovation in both nations.
The JWG reviewed ongoing defence cooperation initiatives and agreed that both countries have benefited from each other’s strengths. They discussed potential areas for future collaboration, including enhancing operational capabilities and addressing shared challenges like terrorism. “They also deliberated on various issues, including shared challenges of terrorism and underscored their collective resolve to fight against the threat,” the ministry noted.
The signing of the pact coincides with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar’s three-day visit to India. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Sa’ar held extensive talks in New Delhi, focusing on global anti-terrorism efforts and ways to boost trade ties. The two sides also decided to enhance cooperation in trade, infrastructure, and connectivity, reflecting the expanding ties between India and Israel.
This defence pact comes amid reports that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may visit India in the coming months. The growing collaboration between the two nations is poised to reshape the defence landscape, fostering innovation and strengthening security ties in an increasingly complex geopolitical environment.