PM Modi is visiting Israel amid regional tensions. India-Israel ties are strong on defence. UPSC asks about India's foreign policy and its impact.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is visiting Israel on a two-day state visit starting February 25, 2025. This is his first visit since 2017 and his first visit after the Gaza war began in October 2023.
The visit occurs amid:
India is the biggest purchaser of Israeli weapons over the last decade, particularly between 2015 and 2019.
Types of weapons/technology purchased:
Strategic goals:
Recent developments:
India's role in Trump's peace plan:
Netanyahu's "Hexagon of Alliances":
India-Middle-East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC):
Modi will address the Israeli Parliament (Knesset):
Political complications:
India's Foreign Policy in West Asia:
Strategic Partnerships and Defence Cooperation:
Regional Alignments and Alliances:
India's Position on Global Peace Initiatives:
Soft Power and Diplomatic Symbolism:
| Term | Definition | Context in This Topic |
|---|---|---|
| De-hyphenation | Keeping two separate relationships independent rather than linking them together | India de-hyphenates its ties with Israel and Palestine, meaning it maintains separate relationships with both without letting one affect the other. |
| Strategic Partnership | A formal diplomatic relationship focused on long-term cooperation in defence, security, and economic interests | India upgraded its relationship with Israel to a strategic partnership during Modi's 2017 visit. |
| Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) | A non-binding agreement between two parties outlining their intention to cooperate on specific matters | Israel's Defence Secretary signed an MoU on defence cooperation with India in November 2025. |
| Observer Status | Participation in a meeting or organisation without formal membership or voting rights | India attended Trump's Board of Peace meeting as an observer, meaning it could listen and engage but was not formally joining the initiative. |
| Indigenisation | The process of developing domestic capability to produce goods or technology rather than importing them | India seeks to indigenise defence production and manufacturing with Israeli technology transfer. |
Israel is a global leader in defence technology and innovation. By purchasing Israeli weapons and technology, India gains access to cutting-edge systems. More importantly, through technology transfer agreements, India can learn to manufacture these systems domestically, reducing dependence on imports and strengthening its defence industry.
West Asia is a geopolitically sensitive region. India's position as a "central pillar" in Netanyahu's Hexagon shows India's growing strategic importance. However, India must balance this with its non-aligned tradition and its historical support for Palestinian statehood.
The visit occurs amid:
All these factors make this visit strategically significant for India's foreign policy.
Q1. Consider the following statements regarding India-Israel relations: 1. India recognized Israel in 1950 but established full diplomatic relations only in 1992. 2. India has been the largest purchaser of Israeli weaponry in the last decade, particularly between 2015 and 2019. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Both statements are correct. The option at index 0 is correct because India formally recognized Israel in 1950, but full diplomatic ties were established much later in 1992. The option at index 1 is also correct because India has been the largest purchaser of Israeli weapons, especially between 2015 and 2019, focusing on drones, missile systems, and surveillance technology.
Q2. Consider the following statements regarding India-Israel relations: 1. India has been the largest purchaser of Israeli weaponry in the last decade, particularly between 2015 and 2019. 2. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit in 2017 marked the first time an Indian Prime Minister visited Israel, leading to an upgrade in relations to a comprehensive partnership. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
The statement at index 0 is correct because India has indeed been the largest purchaser of Israeli weapons in the last decade, especially between 2015 and 2019. The statement at index 1 is incorrect because the relationship was upgraded to a strategic partnership, not a comprehensive partnership.