India-Israel Forge Strategic Relationship; Sign 16 Deals, Amid Regional Flux

New Delhi/ Tel Aviv: India-Israel on Thursday elevated bilateral relations to a “Special Strategic Partnership. Both leaders signed or endorsed 16 agreements spanning AI, cybersecurity, defence, investment, agriculture, education, financial connectivity and worker mobility.

PM Modi visited Israel from February 25 to 26 at Netanyahu’s invitation.

AI, Innovation and Emerging Technologies

They signed a MoU on cooperation in AI, focusing on joint research, professional exchanges and institutional partnerships. An additional MoU between the two education ministries aims to integrate AI-driven tools into academic systems and research ecosystems.

The two sides announce a Declaration of Intent to create a Horizon Scanning and Strategic Foresight Mechanism to track emerging global trends using data and advanced technology tools.

The leaders reaffirm support for the industrial R&D and Innovation Fund, jointly managed by India’s Department of Science and Technology and the Israel Innovation Authority, and agree to expand industry outreach and joint research.

Under the Joint Research Calls programme, both countries increase annual contributions from $1 million to $1.5 million each to strengthen university partnerships and researcher exchanges.

Cybersecurity Cooperation

In the digital front, they signed a Letter of Intent to establish an India-Israel Centre of Excellence in Cybersecurity in India. The centre will focus on capacity building, applied research, security-by-design principles and joint cyber exercises.

The initiative builds on the Cyber Policy Dialogue held in March 2025 and includes a multi-year implementation roadmap.

Defence and Strategic Ties

The leaders welcomed the MoU on Defence Cooperation signed in November 2025 and outlined a roadmap for expanded collaboration in defence technologies, platforms and joint development projects.

Both nations share long-standing defence ties, with Israel emerging as one of India’s key suppliers of advanced defence systems over the past two decades.

Trade, Investment and Financial Linkages

India–Israel Bilateral Investment Agreement signed in September 2025 and confirmed that negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement have formally commenced. They directed officials to expedite talks.

In the fintech domain, NPCI International and MASAV signed an MoU to explore linking India’s UPI with Israel’s fast payment system to facilitate cross-border transactions.

The Indian Council of Arbitration and the Israeli Institute of Commercial Arbitration signed an agreement to strengthen commercial dispute resolution framework. Financial regulators the International Financial Services Centres Authority and the Israel Securities Authority also concluded a cooperation pact.

Both sides encouraged expanded direct air connectivity between Tel Aviv and major Indian cities and called for greater Indian participation in Israeli infrastructure projects, including metro, rail, airport, desalination and wastewater initiatives.

Agriculture, Water and Fisheries

In agriculture, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and MASHAV signed an MoU to establish the Innovation Centre for Agriculture.

The leaders reviewed progress at 35 agricultural Centers of Excellence operating across India and noted that eight more centers are being operationalised. According to official figures, more than one million Indian farmers have received training through these facilities.

They also launched 20 joint agricultural research fellowships at the Volcani Center, formalised cooperation in fisheries and aquaculture, and agreed to establish a Joint Centre of Excellence in the sector.

Mobility, Education and Cultural Ties

The two sides confirmed that up to 50,000 additional Indian workers may travel to Israel over the next five years under existing labour mobility frameworks.

New implementation protocols were signed for commerce and services, manufacturing and restaurant sectors, with the Joint Coordination Committee tasked with ensuring worker safety and legal protections.

In education, Nalanda University and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem signed an MoU. Both governments agreed to establish an Academic Cooperation Forum to convene annually.

The leaders also encouraged collaboration in culture and cinema through exchanges and joint productions and welcomed the formation of an India-Israel Parliamentary Friendship Group in the Indian Parliament.

Space and Regional Cooperation

Both the nations welcomed ongoing cooperation between the ISRO and the Israel Space Agency, calling for deeper engagement between their respective space industries and start-ups.

On regional security, both leaders condemned terrorism in all forms and referenced recent attacks in Israel and India. They reaffirmed cooperation under the I2U2 Group and discussed progress on the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor initiative.